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 22 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 optics engineer Eric Wille explains the origin of silicon pore optics, the new optical technology underpinning Europe’s Athena space observatory to observe the hot, high-energy cosmos. Polishing and stacking together silicon wafers – normally used to manufacture integrated circuits – allows the focusing of X-rays to see far further into space. ESA shares the patent for this technology with Cosine Research, the Dutch company currently developing it The mission launch is 12 years away, but work von preparing its silicon pore optics module is already well underway.
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