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
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The 3rd world water forum took place from 16-23 March in Kyoto (Japan) and 22 March has been selected as the UN's World Water day. The earth is the only wet planet in the Solar system, and water indeed plays an important role in our ecosystem. Looking at the other planets like Venus and Mars, the question arieses where the water on the Earth has been coming from, and whether there is indeed no water present on other planets. This transmission sheds light on the scientific investigation of these questions, by ESA planetary and Earth obserbation missions.
the programme comprises of a 5-minute A-roll with split audio (english commentary/international sound- and is complimented by a B-roll with clean international sound.
WATER IN THE UNIVERSE
10:00:40:00
It is believed that the Earth is presently the only planet in our Solar System that has surface water. We know our neighbouring planets are not so lucky. Had Earth been slightly closer to the Sun, it would probably be as dry and hot as Venus - or slightly further away and it could be dry and cold like Mars. The wealth of water on Earth is the source of many unanswered questions: Where does it come from? Is it inexhaustible? Are there any hidden water sources?And is the thermodynamic equilibrium that regulates the presence of water on the ground and water in the atmosphere stable? If not, then upsetting such a fragile equilibrium may result in our planet experiencing a severe and irreversible desertification process. Many of these questions can be answered by looking at other planets, which are the thermodynamic end result of an evolution process. That same process could be triggered here on Earth by endogeni