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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ESA's Solar Orbiter undergoing a solar array deployment test at the IABG facilities in Ottobrunn, Germany on 21 March 2019. The solar panels are suspended from above to simulate the weightlessness of space.
Solar Orbiter will perform a close-up study of our Sun from within the orbit of planet Mercury. It will combine in situ and remote sensing measurements to gain new information about the how our local star works.
Solar Orbiter is an ESA-led mission with NASA participation. It is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral in February 2020.