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 Orbiter 101 Enterprise separates from the NASA 747 carrier aircraft to begin its first "tail-cone off" unpowered flight over desert and mountains of Southern California. A T-38 chase plane follows in right background. Astronauts Joe Engle, and Richard Truly controlled the Orbiter on its two-minute, 34-second unpowered mission on this the fourth of five Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) with free flight phases, from Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC).