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 topicIn 1912, the "Titanic" hit an iceberg and sank. Since this time, monitoring ice has been regarded as very important - and extremely difficult. This video describes the ice-monitoring capabilities of ERS-1, launched in 1993, following the voyage of "L'Astrolabe" through the North-East Passage across the top of Russia. This monitoring is to safeguard shipping and help to keep open shipping routes. The programme also looks at environmental research in the polar worlds. It includes videos of ice shelves breaking off, wildlife in polar regions (polar bears and penguins) as well as animations of the launch and orbit of ERS-1 and its scientific mission.