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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A porcelain plate featuring Comet 46P/Wirtanen, commissioned by ESA to Royal Delft to commemorate the launch of the Rosetta mission, then planned for 2003.
A bright comet with a period of 5.5 years, 46P had been chosen in the 1990s as the target of ESA’s Rosetta mission. However, a launch delay to 2004 prompted the mission team to select a new target, Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, which was visited by Rosetta between 2014 and 2016.
Full story: December comet brings back Rosetta memories