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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The ATV's Monitoring and Safing Unit (MSU) (outlined in red) and the three electronic boxes (outlined in yellow) for the Fault Tolerant Computer (FTC) inside Jules Verne ATV avionics bay.
The triple FTC, which is the main computer, plays the role of a pilot that navigates the ATV. The Monitoring and Safing Unit (MSU) can be compared to a pilot responsible for safety, hidden inside the automated spaceship responsible for the mission.