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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Testing the MetOp-SG-B1 satellite in the thermal-vacuum chamber at Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse, France, needs one truck of liquid nitrogen every day. Creating extreme hot and cold temperatures in a vacuum is a challenging process. To achieve this, the chamber is lined with black metal, through which this liquid nitrogen, at –192°C, circulates to simulate the coldness of space.
The MetOp-Second Generation mission comprises three successive pairs of satellites to deliver data for weather forecasting and climate prediction for over 20 years. Working as a pair in polar orbit, the A-type and the B-type satellites are equipped with complementary suites of instruments to provide high-resolution measurements of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, and more.
Read full story: First all-new MetOp complete and sibling in testing