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. Saturn's largest moon Titan has an atmosphere of nitrogen with carbon compounds and most importantly: it may resemble the Earth as it was before life began. Therefore taking a close look at Titan's atmosphere may tell us more about the important steps leading to life on Earth. This is the third in a series of three programmes on planetary exploration the other 2 being 'Why Explore Other Planets?' and 'ESA's Missions to Mars'. It outlines the Huygens/Cassini mission to Titan, a ESA/NASA project, that was launched in October 1997. It includes footage of its Jupiter swingby and also how it is equipped to land safely on Titan once it reaches the end of its incredibly long journey. The programme includes an A-roll with split audio and English voiceover, and a B-roll with clean international sound.