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 topicThe ATR 42 was specially equipped to receive and analyse EGNOS signal broadcast through the Inmarsat IOR–E satellite.
A small antenna was mounted on the roof of the plane. This received signals from computers on the ground that were translating EGNOS positions. Inside the plane, an EGNOS receiver from Thales Avionics transformed signals from the antenna into information that helped the pilots in their flight operations. They were able to carry out approaches with vertical guidance and land with help from space. EGNOS data and all manœuvres have been recorded and will be closely analysed later by the French space agency (CNES) in Toulouse.