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-3A satellite in Cannes, France, on 14 October 2015, before being packed up and shipped to Russia for launch.
Sentinel-3 will measure sea-surface topography, sea and land-surface temperature, and ocean and land-surface colour, in support of ocean and weather forecasting systems. Over land, this innovative mission will map the way land is used, study vegetation and measure the heights of rivers and lakes. In addition, it will detect and monitor wildfires. Sentinel-3A is the third satellite to be launched for Europe's Copernicus environmental monitoring programme. An industrial consortium led by prime contractor Thales Alenia Space built the satellite.
Sentinel-3A will be launched in December 2015 on a Rockot from Plesetsk in Russia.