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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IXV engineers during integration at Europe's Spaceport
On 11 February 2015 the European Space Agency launched IXV, the ‘Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle’. The spacecraft proved Europe had all the technology and know-how to send a re-usable spacecraft to space – and back.
In 100 minutes IXV was launched on a Vega rocket, flew 400 km up, travelled half-way across our planet, surfed the atmosphere and gently splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.