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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The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) will observe the most energetic objects and events in the cosmos. In doing so, it will unveil the evolution of the Universe and the structure of spacetime. XRISM is a collaboration between the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA, with significant participation from ESA.
This image is a 3D visualisation of one of XRISM’s two ‘geomagnetic aspect sensors’, which act as magnetic compasses. They sense Earth’s magnetic field so that the spacecraft can be oriented accordingly. They are each about the size of a mobile phone and weigh about 300 g.