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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Exposure to lava flows in Sao Jorge; provided by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service in June 2022.
Earlier this year, the Portuguese island São Jorge received threatening levels of seismic activity – 1800 small tremors were registered in just four days. These could have indicated an imminent volcanic eruption, so local authorities used satellite data to map the potential lava flow and protect people and infrastructure accordingly. Fortunately, no volcanic eruption occurred, but the local population was ready for the worst-case scenario thanks to the help of space technology.