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 topicOn 12 July 2001, the Artemis telecommunications satellite was left stranded in the wrong orbit following a malfunction of its launcher. This ESA video from 2001 tells the story of the successful recovery of the mission. A team of ESA and industry engineers conceived an imaginative rescue plan to use Artemis' ion propulsion system in an unconventional way to gradually push the spacecraft into its working orbit, 36000 km above the equator, finally reached on 31 January 2003. Artemis was able to go carry it its original misison, including a word first - a satellite laser linkup. The programme comprises a 7 minute A-Roll with split audio and is complemented by a B-Roll with clean international sound.