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
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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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ESA-sponsored medical doctor Beth Healey shared this image on Twitter, commenting: "We enjoyed a small aurora over the base this evening". Beth is spending nine months in Concordia to run experiments for ESA in preparation of space exploration missions.
As Concordia lies at the very southern point of Earth, the Sun does not rise above the horizon in winter and does not set in summer. This week the crew saw the return of the Sun for the first time in four months. At 3200 m above sea level in the world’s largest desert, the air in Concordia is very dry and holds less oxygen.
Read more about Concordia on the ESA website and on the Concordia blog.