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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This radar image of the Jakobshavn Glacier on Greenland's west coast was captured by Copernicus Sentinel-1 on 03 August 2024.
Jakobshavn drains approximately 6.5% of the Greenland ice sheet and produces around 10% of its icebergs. Many of these icebergs are so large that they become grounded in shallower areas of the fjord, where they remain for years until melting sufficiently to break apart and disperse.
Several icebergs can be seen scattered across the fjord, speckling the waters of Disko Bay. Radar missions like Sentinel-1 are remarkably useful in monitoring sea ice, ice sheets and drifting icebergs, particularly in polar regions. Unlike optical imaging, radar can acquire images under any weather conditions, day or night.