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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ESA has signed an agreement with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the organisation operating international observatories on the Canary Islands, to expand the role of their facilities in laser-based communication for space missions, as well as space debris monitoring. Seen left to right, Rolf Densing, ESA Director of Operations; Rafael Rebolo, Director of the IAC; Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science and Franco Ongaro, ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality. The signing took place at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands on 22 May 2019.