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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On Mars there are dust storms, polar ice caps and four distinct seasons. This dynamic world has the largest volcanic mountain in our Solar System and a canyon stretching over 5000 kilometres. Its atmosphere also includes methane, which could result from geological processes or be signatures of current biological activity on the planet.
The joint European and Russian ExoMars mission will test key exploration technologies and search for evidence of methane and other rare gases in the Martian atmosphere.
This film is a recap of the science aims of the ExoMars 2016 mission, building on the findings of Europe’s Mars Express spacecraft.