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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It is estimated that 108 billion humans have ever lived. Of those, just a tiny fraction have had the chance to see images like this, of our home, a tiny Pale Blue Dot hanging in the vast blackness of space.
On the left, Earth is seen rising from the Moon, taken by the Command/Service Module Columbia in lunar orbit.
On the right, the international Cassini spacecraft captured Saturn's rings and our planet Earth and Moon in the same frame.