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
Go to topicProject Mercury will pave the way for manned spaceflight. This 1960s documentary gives an overview of the research and development of the Mercury spacecraft and its Atlas launch vehicle. Topics covered include: graphics of the proposed mission; development and testing of the various components of the rocket; astronaut selection and training [including zero-G parabolic flights, centrifuge training]; various tracking stations and monitoring consoles; free-fall drop testing of the re-entry module; flight testing of the prototype spacecraft - launch, search and recovery; Little Joe solid propellant research and development launch vehicle; Mercury/Atlas test launches; launch photography from Little Joe.