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 Twin Otter carries the ASIRAS radar instrument which – much as the CryoSat satellite does much higher up in its orbit about Earth – emits a series of radar pulses as the plane travels over the ice and snow surfaces and very carefully records the faint return echo from the surface. Airborne measurements acquired by the ASIRAS instrument are used to validate CryoSat data.