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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Mean air temperature in Paris, France at 22:00 CESTin summer 2003. During that summer, large portions of Europe were struck by a major heat wave. Paris was affected severely because the urban heat island effect prevented the city from cooling during the night, leading to thousands of heat-related deaths. Modelling results suggest that in the future, heat waves of this intensity and duration might occur every 3–4 years. Thermal-infrared measurements from satellites continue to help us understand the dynamics of urban heat islands and their patterns within cities.