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 first scientific results from ESA's Planck mission are offering us new views on our Universe and its origins. The findings focus on the coldest objects in the Universe, from within our Galaxy to the distant reaches of space. This data forms the Early Release Compact Source Catalogue and already reveals the drama of the evolution of our Universe. Launched in May 2009 Planck is looking at the first light of the Universe 380.000 years after the Big Bang. This Video explains what Planck is unveiling with interview of Jan Tauber, ESA's Project Scientist for Planck.