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 topicThe video describes the scientific ojectives behind the Venus Express mission. Venus is Earth's twin sister planet. However, its atmosphere is completely different from that of Earth. Temperatures are extremely high and its atmosphere is full of carbon dioxide.Its surface reminiscent of Dante's description of hell and at high altitudes its atmosphere is continously swept by hurricane winds.However,at 80 kilometres of altitude the intriguing phenonomen of absortion of ultraviolet wavelengths may be considered as a possible indication of biological activity. Finally, Venus rotates backwards with respect to Earth and very slowly so that a venusian day is 243 Earth's days ! Venus Express is the first European mission to Venus and with its many instruments will investigate on the nature and evolution of Venus in a global way.