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
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Over the past three years, ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite has mapped Earth’s wet and dry soils, helping us to understand the water cycle and supporting water resource management. Global ocean salinity data from SMOS has given us new insight into how rivers and runoff from land are dispersed by ocean currents. Surpassing expectations, SMOS data are also being used to monitor Arctic sea ice extent and thickness, providing daily coverage of the Arctic Ocean. In addition, the satellite can track hurricanes, such as last year’s Hurricane Sandy that devastated parts of the US east coast.