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 Structures and Mechanisms division oversaw development of the HBRISC2 processor at the heart of Vega's electromechanical actuators used to steer the first three stages in flight. This processor is capable of maintaining simultaneous control of the pair of actuators while also being hardened against the space radiation effects that begin to manifest as Vega rises beyond the protection of the atmosphere.