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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During the CAVES mission environments and passages are surveyed using novel technology based on laser range finders and the CaveSniper instrument. The combination of these devices allows us to measure distance, direction and inclinations between survey stations. At each station it is also possible to take measurements of the surrounding environments using “splay shots”.
The route from station to station coupled with splay measurements allow software (called Compass Cave) to construct a 3D model of the cave and draw a cave map (on the horizontal plane) and a profile (on the vertical plane). The result can be used by future cave explorers and scientists to locate sampling and monitoring sites. The 3D survey map can also be displayed on surface maps to chart cave development below Earth’s surface.