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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Images of the reflection nebula IC4954, taken by AKARI’s near-mid-infrared camera (IRC) (left) and IRAS, the only previous infrared sky surveyor (right).
This image comparison shows the enormous improvement in resolution and sensitivity brought by AKARI, which is already able to provide us with much more precise information about this star forming region than previous observations.
Launched in 1983, the IRAS Infra-Red Astronomical Satellite was the first mission to make a complete infrared survey of the entire sky. The mission resulted from the joint venture between the USA, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. IRAS produced infrared maps of the Universe which have been used until the present day.