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 from ESA’s Mars Express shows the wrinkled surroundings of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano not only on Mars but in the Solar System. This feature, created by previous landslides and lava-driven rockfalls, is named Lycus Sulci.
This image comprises data gathered by Mars Express’ High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on 18 January 2023. It was created using data from the nadir channel, the field of view aligned perpendicular to the surface of Mars, and the colour channels of the HRSC.
North is to the right. The ground resolution is approximately 19 m/pixel and the image is centred at about 28°N/212°E.
Image description: This tan-coloured slice of Mars is largely covered by wrinkled, crumpled terrain, stretching from the bottom left of the frame towards the top right. There is a notable divide towards the left, where a newer concentric ring of material has overlaid the previous landscape and so sits at higher relief. A lone crater is visible to the right of the frame on a smooth and unwrinkled patch of ground.