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 topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
Vatican Apostolic Library explains how procedures and tools are being used to restore ancient manuscripts. The Library’s preservation project is based on the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) format, which was developed by ESA and NASA in the 1970s and stems from radio astronomy. The procedures, file formats and tools further developed by the Library demonstrate how this is facilitating their digitalisation project, but also how it is suitable for the long-term preservation of ESA’s satellite data and information.