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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
Images of the Inden and Hambach lignite surface mines in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as seen from the International Space Station. ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer posted these images to his social media channels on 10 February 2022 with the caption: "Due to the fact that Germany has been covered in clouds since I've been up here, there hasn't been much to see so far. But a few days ago, there were landmarks jumping into my view: the Inden and Hambach lignite surface mines. Nearby is also the Garzweiler mine which so incredibly deep and wide that that small planes can fly through this huge pit below ground level. A most prominent feature of how humans change our planet."
Visit the Cosmic Kiss mission page to learn more about Matthias’s mission.