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 topic"ESAs time machine to understand the evolution of the Universe"
"The most important space science mission for the European Space Agency and for Ariane is in the last phase of preparation for launch. Due to lift off soon from French Guiana, the flight will be orbiting two observatories, Herschel and Planck.
Planck will be the first European space observatory whose main goal is the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background the relic radiation from the Big Bang. The spacecraft will measure the fluctuations of the CMB with an infinitely precise accuracy. It will be offering a journey back to the dawn of time.