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 heavy plume of ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano is visible travelling over the Atlantic in this Envisat Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer image acquired on 11 May 2010. The narrow shape of the ash cloud indicates a lot of wind is blowing in a southerly direction towards the west of Ireland. Also visible, the area around the Hakla volcano (east of Eyjafjallajoekull) now appears black as the snow and ice that surrounded it in April have been completely covered by ash. The volcano has been emitting steam and ash since its recent eruptions began on 20 March.