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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One of the engines that will be used on the Lunar Lander to guide the spacecraft to a safe landing site on the Moon.
The engines have been used on ESA’s series of Automatic Transfer Vehicles. When tested for their new role on the Lunar Lander they were shown to perform well even when reaching temperatures of up to 1100ºC.
In addition, five engines adapted from boosting telecommunication satellites will fire for 10 minutes to slow Lunar Lander’s descent to the Moon’s surface.