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 inaugural Vega flight from its new launch pad at Europe's Spaceport, in Kourou, is scheduled to take place within a window of a few days opening next 9 February. The European Space Agency will carry out the first qualification flight of this brand-new launch vehicle which, once tested and validated, will complement the family of launch services already available from French Guiana - the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch system, and the Soyuz medium-class launcher, introduced last October. The four-stage Vega has been designed for the growing number of small spacecraft currently under construction or being planned worldwide. This maiden launch comes after 9 years of development by ESA and its partners the Italian Space Agency and the industrial ELV SpA , as well as for the seven ESA member states that contributed to the program: Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.