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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This view shows our Solar System from above with the Earth and Mars in opposition about the Sun, placing Mars and the Sun in to conjunction as seen from the Earth, on 5 December 2008. This image clearly illustrates the path that line-of-sight radio signals must travel - through the Sun's turbulant atmosphere - between Mars Express and the Earth.
Graphic generated by Mars Express mission controllers at ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, using Celestia.