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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After liftoff, a launch vehicle makes its way to space following a path shown by start of the green line, in the figure. At the target destination, the rocket releases the payload which sets it off on an elliptical orbit, following the green line which sends the payload farther away from Earth. The point farthest away from Earth on the green elliptical orbit is called the apogee and the point closest is called the perigee.
When the payload reaches the apogee at the GEO altitude of 35 786 km, it fires its engines in such a way that it enters onto the circular GEO orbit and stays there, shown by the blue line in the diagram.