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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An opening at the top of the lunar temple, peering out to deep space, lined up with a 'liquid mirror telescope', kept spinning to maintain an optimal parabolic shape. A special liquid with an extremely low evaporation rate would be used, benefiting from the Moon's low gravity. This telescope would allow visitors to gaze into the oldest and most distant objects in the universe.The temple has a communal forum with several levels to be used for cultural and ritual activities. Three horizontal cuts on the upper side of the dome allow natural light to illuminate the temple. Artist Jorge Mañes Rubio, part of ESA’s future-oriented Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), has designed a place of contemplation to serve a future lunar settlement. It would be built on the sunlit rim of 21-km diameter Shackleton Crater, which is bathed much of the time in sunlight while overlooking a 4.2 km-deep interior mired in perpetual shadow. An app allowing people to virtually experience the Shackleton Crater environment for themselves is being finalised, meanwhile an animation is already available.