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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Tractus Catena from the nadir and colour channels, combined to form a natural colour view of the region. The pit-chains have analogues on both Earth and the Moon, with the Mexican Cenotes being one of the most famous and dramatic examples on Earth. On the Moon, Hadley Rille, visited by Apollo 15 in 1971, is believed to have formed from the collapse of a lava tube billions of years ago.