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 topicThere are many reasons to explore the other planets and the smaller bodies in our Solar system. Studying these may actually give us answers on questions about the history of our own Earth. Whereas stars other than the Sun are too far away to reach them, man-made space probes can travel throughout our solar system. This video outlines the main historic missions to other planets and provides a pre-view of ESA's Rosetta and Smart-1 missions.