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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Still probably many years in the future and most likely international in nature, a Mars Sample Return mission represents one of the most challenging space ventures possible for robotic exploration. First a sample container must be landed on Mars, along with a rover to retrieve a cache of samples carefully selected by a previous mission. Then, once filled, it will be launched back up to Mars orbit to be captured by a return spacecraft and transported back to Earth.