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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A schematic diagram of the Earth-Moon system (not to scale), highlighting the position of the barycentre and the orbits of the Earth and Moon about this point. The barycentre is located around 4 650 km from the centre of the Earth – the radius of the Earth is just under 6 400 km. The barycentre is approximately 80 times further from the centre of the Moon than from the centre of the Earth.