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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Additive Manufacturing-produced prototype, redesigning a crucial piece of the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (Tropomi) atmospheric spectrometer instrument set to fly on ESA’s Sentinel-5P mission in 2016. The original optical-quality mirror design, manufactured in aluminium with a mass of 284.6 grams with a nickel phosphorous coating, was remade with selective laser melting using titanium. The resulting part was streamlined, with unnecessary mass removed. In the event it weighed in at just 127.7 grams, with the same coating. This led to a mass reduction of 54%, despite using a 50% denser material, and was achieved with no reduction in optical performance.