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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This image, which was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 1 March 2021, shows Russia’s Novolazarevskaya research station and India’s Maitri research station near Queen Maud Land in Antarctica. Novolazarevskaya was the starting point the 2021 Chasing the Light expedition, where two explorers, Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs, are undertaking a 3600-km kitesurf trek that takes them across the desolate heart of Antarctica. They are not pushing their physical and mental limits to the brink, facing howling gales and temperatures of –55°C just for the sake of adventure. They are gathering information to help scientists better understand how the body responds to extremes and taking unique measurements that will help complement ESA’s CryoSat data to better understand how this giant ice sheet is responding to climate change.
Take a look at the wider area: Research stations near Queen Maud Land
Read full story: Kitesurfing the white wilderness for science