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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Time-lapse footage of a prototype 2.6-m diameter metal-mesh antenna reflector arriving at ESA's technical heart in the Netherlands for testing. The design represents a big step forward for the European space sector: versions can be manufactured to reproduce any surface pattern that antenna designers wish, something that was previously possible only with traditional solid antennas. ESA’s AMPER (Advanced techniques for mesh reflector with improved radiation pattern performance) project was performed with Large Space Structures GmbH in Germany as prime and TICRA in Denmark as subcontractor. The antenna is seen unboxed in the cleanroom conditions of the ESTEC Test Centre then deployed inside the Hertz antenna test chamber.