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.
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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 topicOne year after the launch of the space telescope Herschel, on top of an Ariane 5 on 14 May 2009 from Guyane, we already have a better knowledge in Infrared Astronomy, in particular about the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars.
In this ESA TV story ESA Project scientist Göran Pilbratt and SPIRE co-investigator Annie Zavagno, from the Laboratory of Astrophysics of Marseille, explain the progress of the mission of this extraordinaty Space Observatory.
Already Herschel, the largest astronomical telescope ever launched, provides never seen before images of star-forming regions.