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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Our oceans cover about 70 percent of Earth’s surface, and we’ve long known that they are integral to all known life and govern our weather and climate. In situ measurements taken in the water provide us with a wealth of information while hundreds of kilometres above the ocean surface, satellites are making their own measurements. Later this year Sentinel-3 will be joining the family of satellites observing the Earth and by combining the information from these with the continued ground-based measurements, we will have an even more accurate global perspective, helping us further understand our oceans.