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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A 5 m-diameter antenna reflector, designed for orbital operations, seen during a test deployment during ESA’s latest Large Deployable Antenna Workshop.
Large-scale antenna reflectors are increasingly required for telecommunications, science and Earth observation missions. This metal mesh reflector has a ‘double pantograph’ design to form a deployable ring. Once deployed it tensions two opposing, but connected, parabolic shaped nets, one on the top and one on the bottom.