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 topicPassenger of STS-134 Endeavour to be launched this 19 April, AMS, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, is hoped to bring new discoveries. Developped in Europe at CERN, near Geneva, AMS will be attached to the International Space Station and from this orbital outpost will observe antimatter and dark matter. This unique cosmic ray detector will be ISS' largest scientific instrument. AMS could bring a revolution in our understanding of the physics of the universe.