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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Panel showing the components of the Herschel satellite, which is composed of three sections. First is the telescope, which has a 3.5 m-diameter mirror protected by a sunshade. The telescope focuses light onto three scientific instruments housed in a giant thermos flask, known as a cryostat, which contains liquid superfluid helium colder than -171°C to make the instruments as sensitive as possible. The instruments and the cryostat make up the second section – the payload module. The third element of the satellite is the service module below the payload module. It houses the instrument electronics and the components needed to make the satellite function, such as the hardware for communication with Earth. It also houses the data processing and spacecraft control electronics, operating at ambient temperature.