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 logo of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO). ESRO's draft convention was laid before an intergovernmental conference in Paris on the 14 and 15 June, 1962. It entered into force on 20 March 1964, the official birth date of ESRO. The first ESRO Council meeting took place on 23/24 March 1964. The ten founding states were Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Two other countries that were originally engaged in the deliberations over the formation of ESRO, Austria and Norway, retained observer status.