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 marks one year since the start of the Artemis I mission. On this day last year, NASA’s mega Moon rocket SLS launched the Orion vehicle into space, where it was propelled to the Moon and back, over 2.25 million km, by ESA’s European Service Module. The Artemis I mission did everything it was supposed to and more: testing every detail of the mission scenario and Orion spacecraft before future crewed Artemis missions. The European Service Module in particular went above and beyond: executing its challenging manoeuvres to a tee and generating so much extra power with its solar wings that they were used as “selfie-sticks” to take all the great mission pictures we’ve seen.
We've used a selection of these images to create phone and computer backgrounds for you. Click the download button or save the image to use this background on your device and celebrate the anniversary of Artemis I with us!
This is an image from the 20th day of the Artemis I mission on 5 December 2022, when Orion performed its lunar flyby, taken by a camera mounted on the European Service Module solar array wings.