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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ESA's Solar Orbiter at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany, before it starts its journey to Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA.
Solar Orbiter will perform a close-up study of our Sun and the Sun-Earth connection to better understand the behaviour of the star on which our lives depend.
At its closest point, the spacecraft will operate from within the orbit of Mercury, providing unique data and imagery of the Sun.
Solar Orbiter is an ESA-led mission with NASA participation and will be launched from Cape Canaveral in February 2020.
The photo was taken on 17 October 2019.