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 topicThe Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) is an international mechanism charged with coordinating international spaceborne missions designed to observe and study planet Earth. CEOS works to optimise the benefits of global Earth observation missions through cooperation between members in terms of mission planning and developing compatible data products, services and policies.
The CEOS Earth Observation Handbook presents the main capabilities of Earth observation satellites and their applications, and addresses the major questions that might be faced by different user types when using Earth observation satellite data for their climate-related challenges.