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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
LAUNCHERS FROM EUROPE'S SPACEPORT
Modern life is increasingly dependent on services that rely on space-based technologies: Global communications, television, weather forecasts, Earth observation, positioning and navigation systems, security, prevention and management of natural and man-made disasters, have become part of our daily lives. These all require reliable, high-performance launch systems.
With the highly successful Ariane launchers, Europe has been able to benefit from independent access to space since 1979. The current versions of Ariane 5 can place several satellites into orbit with the same launch up to a mass of 10 tonnes in GTO, Geostationary Transfer Orbit. A special version launches ESA’s 20 tonne ATV, Automated Transfer Vehicle, to dock with the ISS.
The new Vega launcher will complement the service provided by Ariane 5, launching small satellites of up to 1.5 tonnes into low earth polar orbit. Since 2011 a version of the Russian Soyuz medium launcher completes the lift range of services offered by Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Together with national space agencies, ESA is also stimulating industrial development with new concepts and technologies for future launchers to guarantee a more competitive access to space in the long term.