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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On Thursday 17 October 2024, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and OHB Italia Managing Director Roberto Aceti signed a contract worth €63 million at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan that will begin preparatory work on ESA's proposed Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). If Ramses receives full support from ESA's Member States next year, the spacecraft will launch in 2028 and rendezvous with the infamous asteroid Apophis in early 2029, in time to accompany and study it as it passes within 32 000 km of Earth's surface on 13 April 2029.