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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A UHF and L-band combination patch-array antenna being tested inside ESA’s Hertz chamber in September 2015. This prototype antenna is positioned on a mockup of part of a Meteosat Third Generation Imaging satellite, set for operation from 2020 onwards. The larger rectangular segment of antenna works at L-band frequencies to pick up meteorology data transmitted from Data Collection Platforms variously located on ships, ocean buoys, aircraft or balloons across the globe. The smaller antenna attached to the larger one has the vital task of picking up UHF distress signals from radio beacons belonging to the international Cospas–Sarsat system, so that they can be relayed to regional search and rescue systems.