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 topicOne of the 7 university-developed CubeSats due for launch on the VEGA maiden flight, VV01, is integrated in the device - the P-POD, or Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer - that will carry it together with two more CubeSats during launch. This activity took place between late October and mid November 2011 at ESA's Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands.