ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space research, technology development, and the coordinated use of space for scientific, commercial, and societal purposes. Established in 1975 by a treaty signed in Paris, ESA merged the activities of its predecessors, ESRO and ELDO, to provide Europe with a centralized framework for space activities and to pool resources among member states.

ESA is headquartered in Paris and is governed by a Council composed of representatives from its member states. The agency is led by a Director General and operates under a budget funded by its member states, with program choices shaped through collaborative and consensus-based processes. As of the 2020s, ESA has 22 member states and maintains partnerships with the European Union and other international actors to pursue joint missions and technology programs.

The agency conducts a broad range of activities. In space science, it has led and contributed to missions such as Rosetta, Mars Express, Venus Express, Herschel, Planck, Gaia, and Solar Orbiter, often in collaboration with international partners. In Earth observation, ESA develops and supports satellite missions and research related to climate, land use, and environmental monitoring, contributing to European and global science and policy needs. In space technology and launcher development, ESA oversees Europe’s launcher programs, including Ariane and Vega vehicles and the ongoing development of Ariane 6. For human spaceflight, ESA participates in International Space Station activities and has operated cargo and robotics missions, such as the Automated Transfer Vehicle. The agency also collaborates on satellite navigation and planetary exploration initiatives with international partners.

ESA’s work aims to sustain Europe’s independent access to space, advance scientific knowledge, and stimulate European industry, education, and innovation through international cooperation.