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!
On the 19 June 2013 the IXV Descent and Landing System Test was successfully performed off the east coast of Sardinia, Italy, at the Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra.
The IXV full-scale prototype was brought up to an altitude of 3000 meters by a helicopter of the Italian Defense, and dropped in free-fall to gain the speed required for the proper deployment of the parachute main stage, which then slows down the vehicle in its descent phase for a splash-down in the sea at a speed below 7 m/s in compliance with the vehicle main design loads.