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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Members of the GORISK and Goma Volcanological Observatory (GVO) team in Goma following the eruption of the Nyamuragira volcano on 2 January 2010 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following the eruption, they have been using a large series of space-based images from ESA’s Envisat satellite, together with seismic and helicopter data, to monitor the situation and calm fears of the local population.
From left to right: Montfort Bagalwa (Goma Volcanological Observatory), Dario Tedesco (Second University of Naples, Italy), François Kervyn (Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium), Christelle Wauthier (Royal Museum for Central Africa and the University of Liege, Belgium), Benoit Smets (Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium), Deogratias Kavotha (Goma Volcanological Observatory), François Lukaya (Goma Volcanological Observatory), Etoy Osodundu (Goma Volcanological Observatory) and Nicolas d'Oreye (National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg).