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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The Moon, our natural satellite
With its craters visible to the naked eye, the Moon has always fascinated mankind. Its lack of a protective atmosphere has left its surface pitted by a continuous rain of meteorites and asteroids. In such a hostile environment, without water and where temperatures vary hugely between day and night, the existence of life is highly improbable.
Data from past space missions show that the only possible place for any kind of biological activity to occur is the South Pole where traces of ice have been detected.
According to scientists the Moon however has helped make the Earth stable and hospitable to intelligent life due to its gravitational interaction with our planet.