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 topicSpace technology combats water waste, 2004. ESA research into ways of feeding future astronauts on missions to Mars is about to find a very down-to-earth application - how to recycle every drop of water when fresh water is sparsely or not available at all. Before considering to send a complex water-treatment system into space, it has to be thoroughly tested on Earth. This is why ESA funded development of a sewage water cleaning system for the Franco/Italian Concordia Antarctic research station, to be deployed at the end of 2004. Prior to its shipment to Antarctica, an extended field test of the unit was carried out at a vocational school in Southern France - undoubtedly a tough test bed for any new technology. The system "at work" was filmed, as well as soundbites recorded from engineers and experts from Institut Paul Emile Victor in Brest (operating the Concordia Station) and Technomembrane, Montpellier, France (who built the system). This video is the A-roll of 5 minutes (split audio - English voiceover) . There is a supporting B-roll of 8 minutes with clean international sound.