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 topicIn the early hours of 1 March 2002, the largest Earth observation satellite ever built soared into orbit from ESA's launch base in Kourou, French Guiana For a decade, Envisat has been keeping watch over our planet. The eight-tonne satellite has doubled its planned five-year lifetime, circling Earth more than 50 000 times. With ten sophisticated optical and radar sensors, the satellite is continuously observing and monitoring Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans and ice caps. An estimated 2000 scientific publications have been based on this information.
More background information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMWYN2VQUD_index_0_m.html