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 topicRutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) located in Oxfordshire near Didcot is a world-class UK research institution part of the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CLRC). RAL has a staff of around 1200 who support the work of over 10 000 scientists and engineers, mainly from the university research community. Its main facilities enable research into new materials and structures, for example from battery electrolytes to turbine blades, X-ray laser research, space-based astronomy, the coordination of particle physics and many other topics.