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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Engineers inspect Plato’s service module that is being assembled at OHB’s facilities, in Germany.
This part of the spacecraft contains computers to operate the cameras’ electronics and other critical spacecraft components, including subsystems to control its orientation and orbital motion, propel it through space, distribute power, communicate with Earth, and handle data transfer.
[Image description: In this side-view photo, three engineers in lab coats and caps are looking up at Plato’s service module. About half as tall as the people, the module is mounted on a white support and towers above the three of them. It consists of a black boxy structure with open sides and partitions, containing cables and electronic hardware. The man in the foreground with a light-blue coat is looking pensive while the white-coated colleague in the background is lifting his arm in the direction of the space equipment.]