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 topicThis 7:44 minute video describes the Rosetta mission and how the opportunity of a fly-by of Earth on 4 March 2005 was used to test its fly-by mode and ensure the spacecraft was behaving correctly. During Rosetta's long journey to the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the spacecraft will pass twice through the asteroid belt to make detailed close-up studies of two asteroids. The successful flyby of the Earth showed how scientists can use long distance space travel to deliver bonus science as well as concentrate on long-term-objectives.