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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In October 2016, teams at ESA's ESOC mission control centre, Darmstadt, Germany, oversaw the separation of the Schiaparelli test lander from the ExoMars/TGO orbiter (16 October) followed by the atmospheric entry and descent of Schiaparelli and the capture into Mars orbit of TGO (both on 19 October). On 20 October, senior managers conducted a media briefing to announce the success of TGO and the ongoing analysis of data received from the lander.