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 topicOn 9 November 2016, ESA signed contracts worth €3 billion at ESA’s Paris Head Office with Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) and France’s CNES space agency.
They cover the final full-scale development of Ariane 6 and its launch complex.
The contracts were signed by Jan Woerner, Director General of ESA, Alain Charmeau, CEO/President of ASL, and Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of CNES. Thierry Mandon, French Secretary of State for Research and Higher Education was present at the signing.
Pictured (left to right) :Jean-Yves Le Gall, Thierry Mandon, Jan Woerner, Alain Charmeau.