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 documentary on the history of weather forecasting and the contribution of Meteosat and MSG. The first weather predictions in ancient times were always uncertain and based on myths, folklore and generations of experience. Weather forecasting was advanced by the invention of the barometer and has developed significantly in the computer age. Meteosat and the MSG satellite brought Europe a big step forward by providing an real-time image of the weather, increasing the accuracy of long- and short-term weather forecasting.