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 topicScientists of the German Space Agency (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen have been monitoring the eruptions of the Etna volcano since mid July using the GOME instrument on board ERS-2. The satellite data show a region southeast of Sicily where the atmosphere is polluted with a concentration of sulphur dioxide up to 10 times higher than normal. To give an idea of the scale, the size of the area of dense concentration is nearly the same as Germany.