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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ESA’s Gaia mission has one main goal, to map the Milky way more extensively and with greater precision than any other mission to date.
Using astrometry, the science of measuring the distance and motion of stars, Gaia will map a billion stars over a 5 year period to produce a comprehensive catalogue of measurements that will impact on most areas of astrophysics.
Pic du Midi, timelapse of stars : credit Romain Montagut