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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With the doors to the high-tech telescope nestled in its rear fuselage open, NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, soars over California’s Owens Valley during a flight-envelope expansion test flight. Several test points were flown with the telescope doors open at an altitude of 13 kilometres, within the altitude range that the SOFIA will operate when conducting astronomical observations.