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 topicA state-of-the-art conference centre that will support the thriving UK space industry has opened at Harwell campus in Oxfordshire. It was unveiled as part of an event that celebrated the UK’s cooperation with ESA.
Located at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), the facility will serve as a rallying point for the UK space community, reinforcing existing ties and fostering new partnerships within Europe and beyond.
The facility – named after former director of ESA’s telecommunications activities and head of ECSAT Magali Vaissiere – will boost innovation on campus by promoting collaboration between its health, quantum, energy and space clusters.
This photo features, from left to right; Nick Appleyard, Acting Head of ECSAT; Meganne Christian, British ESA Reserve Astronaut; Chloe Smith, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology; Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA; Magali Vaissiere, former Director of ESA’s Telecommunications Activities and Head of ECSAT; Lord David Willetts, Chair of UK Space Agency; Paul Bate, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Space Agency and; Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Harwell campus.