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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Glaciologist Sebastien Aubin takes a break from work in preparation for the arrival of this year's summer scientists at Concordia research base.
Concordia in Antarctica offers researchers a unique location 3200 m above sea level in the world's largest desert. Temperatures can drop to –80°C in the winter when the Sun does not rise over the horizon for four months.
Concordia is one of the few Antarctic stations that is permanently crewed. In the winter 13 crewmembers maintain the base in complete isolation cut off from the world.
In the summer over 40 scientist set up camp to conduct research in fields as diverse as glaciology and astronomy.
ESA sponsors a medical researcher in Concordia to study the effects of isolation in preparation for future spaceflight missions.