The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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A sandstorm is captured sweeping across central Iraq on 14 September 2008 in this Envisat image, acquired with its Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) instrument. Sandstorms are common in Iraq's desert terrain, especially during the summer due to a strong northwesterly wind, called the shamal, that blows over the floodplain of Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The teardrop-shaped body of water in the upper right corner is Lake TharThar, which is situated 120 km north of Baghdad between the Tigris (visible east of TharThar) and Euphrates (visible west of TharThar).