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 qualification Vega flight from its new launch pad at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana is scheduled to take place on 13 February. This maiden voyage is meant to qualify not only the newly built VEGA launch pad but also the different elements of this new launcher and of course what is the objective of all this: the delivery of satellites on orbit. Indeed it will be a multiple-passenger: 9 payloads in total, for scientific or educational missions. Making up the primary payload for this inaugural flight are two Italian satellites: LARES and ALMaSat-1, thanks to the collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Also flying are seven nanosatellites, called CubeSat, developed by universities from ESA member- or cooperating states, in the framework of ESA Education programme.