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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The structure of the first Copernicus Sentinel CRISTAL satellite in the cleanroom at Airbus. It is ready to be equipped with the hardware that will allow it to function in orbit. Then, engineers will install the advanced instruments that will provide ‘crystal clear’ insights into environmental changes in the world’s remote icy regions.
CRISTAL, which stands for Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter, will carry the first dual-frequency radar altimeter along with a microwave radiometer that will measure and monitor sea-ice thickness, overlying snow depth and ice-sheet elevation.
Read full story: CRISTAL prepares to sparkle