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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Today’s connected cars are dynamic, updateable devices – and, because they can be updated, they are well equipped to become tomorrow’s cars. ESA is working with European carmakers to ensure that connected vehicles harness the full potential of space.
Modern cars keep themselves within the right lane, alert their drivers to the presence of a moped overtaking in queuing traffic – and keep the kids entertained in the back while smoothly directing drivers to their destinations. Trials of the first self-driving vehicles are well underway, including an ESA-backed autonomous shuttle bus that transports passengers across the Harwell campus in the UK.
Keeping cars connected at all places and all times is essential for the smooth operation of modern vehicles. However, in remote areas, vehicles cannot rely on the ground-based next-generation 5G communication links that are necessary to handle the large volumes of data processed by connected cars. Instead telecommunications satellites ensure that cars remain connected.