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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The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite was launched on 2 November 2009, and forms part of ESA's Living Planet Programme. It travels in a Sun-synchronous orbit — a nearly polar orbit around a planet, in which the satellite passes over any given point of the planet's surface at the same local time.
As the satellite completes one complete revolution each year, it always maintains the same relationship with the Sun, meaning a Sun-synchronous orbit can place a satellite in constant sunlight, allowing the solar panels to work continually.