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 topicA documentary on the Northern Lights [Aurora Borealis]. Containing numerous personal accounts of the aurora, lengthy film footage of the phenomenon, and other footage as follows: Fort Churchill tundra research station in northern Canada; South Pole observation station, underground control centres; various historical stills of Northern Lights researchers; early time-lapse photographs of the aurora taken from space; construction of sounding rockets to study the aurora, control room; satellite construction and animations; preparation of cameras to record auroral light, images thus obtained; night launch of sounding rocket; various shots of polar research station, extra-sensitive real-time television system to record aurora; barium metal cloud launched towards aurora, analysis of results.