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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Sentinel-2A at IABG’s environmental test facilities in Ottobrunn, Germany. Following its delivery in early August 2014, the satellite is being put through a six-month testing programme to ensure it is fit for launch. One of the first tasks was to mate the three-panel solar wing to the satellite and then open it fully. This operation was carried out on a special zero-g rig that cancels out the effect of gravity. Developed by ESA, Sentinel-2 is a two-satellite mission for Europe’s Copernicus programme. Airbus Defence and Space Germany (Friedrichshafen) is the prime contractor for the Sentinel-2 satellites, Airbus Defence and Space France is the prime contractor for the multispectral imagers and IABG provides satellite test facilities.