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
Go to topicHispasat 36W-1 will be the first satellite to use the SmallGEO platform developed by OHB and partners as part of an ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.
SmallGEO is a new modular and flexible telecommunications platform, able to carry a range of payloads. Providing up to 3 kW to its payloads and compatible with different commercial launchers, SmallGEO strengthens Europe’s position in the competitive satcom market.
Hispasat 36W-1 will provide Europe, the Canary Islands and the Americas with faster multimedia services through its ‘Redsat’ payload, which offers better signal quality and flexible land coverage. Together with a traditional commercial payload using advanced Ka- and Ku-band transmitters, Redsat allows for higher transmission speeds.