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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At the moment there are thousands of satellites orbiting the earth along with spent rocket bodies and additional debris items. Orbiting debris moves so fast it that a one centimetre nut could hit another satellite with the force of an exploding hand grenade. Debris tends to produce more debris. To prevent the production of new debris in either space or Earth, The Clean Space initiative’s CleanSat programme is developing innovative ways to deorbit satellites from low-earth orbits, developing design and materials methods to ensure satellites fully burn-up during re-entry and making sure that abandoned satellites make safe any and all stored energy that might one day trigger orbital break-ups. Such new technologies to use space in a different way are crucial, if we want future generation to go on making full use of space and exploring our Universe.
To learn more about Clean Space, check out the team's blog