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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Our Solar System condensed from a cloud of gas and dust over 4.6 billion years ago. As the newborn planets settled in their orbits, gravitational perturbations are thought to have disrupted swarms of comets into the inner Solar System, impacting the rocky planets. As well as inheriting ingredients during the planet-forming process itself, comets are also believed to have delivered some of the basic ingredients for life to Earth, leading to life as we know it today.