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
Go to topicA short, clear update of the progress of ESA's astrometrical mission, Hipparcos (High Precision Parallax-Collecting Satellite ), launched on the 8th August 1989. Images include the launch sequence, and numerous graphics; interviews throughout with Dr. Michael Perryman, Hipparcos project scientist.Hipparocs is an astrometry mission whose main objective is to measure with unprecedented precision star positions, distances and motions. In doing so Hiparcos is correcting previous measurements done from Ground Observatories over time. Hipparcos data will allow to comple a very accurate star catalogue