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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Relive key moments of the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite. The spacecraft lifted off on 21 November on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, US.
The satellite will continue the long-term record of reference measurements, extending the record of sea-level height into a fourth decade. Orbiting at an altitude of over 1300 km and reaching 66°N and 66°S, Sentinel-6 provides measurements to map the height of the sea surface over 95% of the world’s ice-free oceans every 10 days.
While Sentinel-6 is one of the European Union’s family of Copernicus missions, its implementation is the result of a unique cooperation between the European Commission ESA, Eumetsat, NASA and NOAA, with contribution from the CNES French space agency.
Read more about the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission.