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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Two polished test mirror segments for the James Webb Space Telescope being inspected by an optical engineer: one segment with the gold coating already applied, the other without.
JWST has a foldable mirror composed of 18 hexagonal-shaped segments mounted onto a framework that forms the spine of the observatory. This structure has two wings that can be folded to fit inside the launcher. Once in space, JWST will unfold and spread its wings. It will then be the largest astronomical telescope in space.