→ ALL ABOUT ESA

Space for Europe

 → THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
From the beginnings of the ‘space age’, Europe has been actively involved
in spaceflight. Today it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation,
telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the
Solar System, and cooperates in the human exploration of space.

Space is a key asset for Europe, providing essential information needed

by decision-makers to respond to global challenges. Space provides
indispensable technologies and services, and increases our understanding
of our planet and the Universe. Since 1975, the European Space Agency
(ESA) has been shaping the development of this space capability.

By pooling the resources of over 20 Member States, ESA undertakes

programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European
country, developing the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed
to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

←
Cover: ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst
during a spacewalk from the International
Space Station in 2014 (NASA/ESA)
CONTENTS

→ SPACE TO DISCOVER ......................................... 2

→ SPACE FOR EARTH .............................................. 4

→ SPACE TO LOCATE ............................................... 6

→ SPACE TO COMMUNICATE .......................... 7

→ SPACE TO INNOVATE ................................... 8

→ ACCESS TO SPACE ........................................ 9

→ SPACE FOR LIFE ......................................... 10

The Philae lander took a ‘selfie’of the Rosetta

spacecraft at Comet 67P/Churyumov–
Gerasimenko from a distance of about 16 km
on 7 October 2014 (ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA)
 science & robotic exploration
→ SPACE TO DISCOVER

Over the past 40 years, Europe has marked a series of firsts in the exploration of
the Solar System and of our Universe: from an encounter with Comet Halley in 1986,
parachuting a probe on to Saturn’s moon Titan in 2005 and landing on a comet in 2014,
to studying our Sun in unprecedented detail and photographing the farthest galaxies.

To continue such successful achievements, ExoMars is a cooperation of ESA and

ESA is now looking ahead to the next Roscosmos to continue the exploration of the
20 years with its Cosmic Vision programme. Mars. One of its most ambitious scientific
This is a way of building on a solid past, and goals is to establish whether life ever existed,
working today to overcome the scientific, or is still active on Mars today. This is one of
intellectual and technological challenges the outstanding questions of our time, and a
of tomorrow. Cosmic Vision is a starting prerequisite to prepare for the future human
point for crucial studies in space science, to exploration of the Red Planet.
discover if other worlds exist and how life
and the Universe evolved from the Big Bang In 2022, JUICE will fly to Jupiter, the largest
to now. planet in the Solar System. JUICE will focus
on its three largest icy moons, Europa,
Several fundamental themes lie at the core Ganymede, and Callisto, to assess the
of the Cosmic Vision programme: potential habitability of their hidden deep
­­– the conditions for planetary formation and water oceans.
the emergence of life;
– how the Solar System works; MONITORING THE STORMY SUN
– the fundamental physical laws of the
Universe; Solar exploration has always played a key
– the origins of the Universe and what it is role in ESA’s space science programme and
made of. satellites built in Europe have a long and
highly successful tradition in monitoring our
EXPLORING OTHER PLANETS star and exploring its environment.

Scientists believe that our Solar System Today, many missions study the Sun, our
formed about 4600 million years ago. Since source of heat and energy that allows life to
then, its planets and moons have all evolved form and evolve on Earth. The joint ESA/NASA
in very different ways. To understand how Ulysses has provided us with the first-ever
the Solar System works and why Earth is map of the heliosphere from the Sun’s equator
unique, ESA has launched a series of highly to its poles. ESA’s four Cluster satellites are
successful science missions. investigating the interaction between Earth’s
magnetosphere and the solar wind.
Mars Express has found water on Mars and
is mapping its surface. Venus Express is SOHO, orbiting at a special point in space
peering into the dense Venusian atmosphere on the sunward side of Earth, sends images
to study the dramatic greenhouse effect. of solar explosions and probes the hidden
ESA’s Huygens has landed on Titan, a moon of interior of the Sun. Especially remarkable are
Saturn, to study its chemistry and mineralogy. its observations of coronal mass ejections,
Rosetta rendezvoused and landed on in which the Sun sends huge puffs of
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and electrified gas out into the Solar System.
is now helping scientists understand if
comets brought water and life to Earth. The Satellites and power and communications
BepiColombo mission will explore Mercury, systems on the ground are vulnerable to
the closest planet to the Sun, to learn how this ‘space weather’, and their engineers
planets near stars form and evolve. can now be alerted in good time.

↖ In November 2014, ESA's Rosetta mission rendezvoused and landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
↖ Sunshield test unit on James Webb Space Telescope unfurled for the first time (NASA)
← Solar Orbiter will study our star, the Sun, and the solar wind at close range

2
 stars and galaxies are born. A new generation
In 2017, Solar Orbiter will fly to within of telescopes, such as the James Webb Space
42 million km of the Sun, even closer than Telescope, will investigate supernovas, black
Mercury, to study our star and the solar holes and quasars. They will provide scientists
wind at close range. with insight into the birth and evolution of
planetary systems.
LOOKING DEEP INTO THE UNIVERSE
The Euclid mission will try to answer
Space-based telescopes, such as Hubble one of the biggest questions in modern
and ESA’s XMM-Newton and Integral, are cosmology: why is the Universe expanding
studying the Universe beyond the visible at an accelerating rate, rather than slowing
light, observing hot places around black holes down due to the gravitational attraction of
and exploded stars and monitoring celestial all the matter in it? Studying galaxies up to
objects with extreme gravity, density and 10 billion light years away, Euclid will plot the
temperature. Planck and Herschel are looking evolution of the Universe’s structure over
deeper into space to study the birth of the three-quarters of its history.
Universe and to solve the mystery of how

→ SUN
Name Launch Mission
ESRO-2 1968 Cosmic and X-radiation from the Sun

ISEE-B 1977 International Sun-Earth Explorer

→ ExoMars 
Ulysses 1990 First spacecraft to overfly the Sun’s
poles mission (ESA/AOES)

SOHO 1995 Studying the Sun’s core, outer

corona and solar wind
→ SOLAR SYSTEM AND SUN–EARTH INTERACTIONS
Cluster & Double 2000 Interaction of the solar wind and
Star (with China) 2003/2004 Earth’s magnetosphere Name Launch Mission

Solar Orbiter 2017 Study of the Sun from close range Aurora 1968 Polar frontiers of the Van Allen
radiation belt

HEOS-1 1968 Interplanetary magnetic fields

→ ASTRONOMY AND THE EXOTIC UNIVERSE
Boreas 1969 Polar frontiers of the Van Allen
TD-1A 1972 Measuring ultraviolet radiation from radiation belt
15 000 stars
HEOS-2 1972 Interplanetary magnetic fields
Cos-B 1975 Gamma-ray studies
ESRO-4 1972 Upper atmosphere temperature
IUE 1978 Ultraviolet observations of 10 000 variations
celestial objects
GEOS-1 1977 Plasma particles and waves in
Exosat 1983 X-ray emissions of astronomical Earth’s magnetic field
phenomena
GEOS-2 1978 Movement in Earth’s upper
Hipparcos 1989 Position measurements of 120 000 stars atmosphere

Hubble Space 1990 Orbiting astronomical observatory Giotto 1985 Fly-past of Comet Halley and
Telescope Comet Grigg‒Skjellerup

ISO 1995 Exploring the infrared Universe Cassini‒Huygens 1997 Exploring Saturn’s system and
descending onto its largest moon
XMM-Newton 1999 The most sensitive X-ray observatory Titan
to date
Mars Express 2003 Studying the atmosphere,
Integral 2002 Observing the most energetic surface and subsurface of the
phenomena in gamma rays Red Planet

Herschel 2009 Infrared emissions from stars and SMART-1 2003 Testing solar-electric propulsion
galaxies and studying the Moon’s surface

Planck 2009 Studying the Cosmic Microwave Huygens 2004 Probing the atmosphere and
Background radiation surface of Titan

Gaia 2013 Precision mapping of one billion stars Rosetta 2004 Orbiter of Comet 67P/
Churyumov-Gerasimenko and
LISA Pathfinder 2015 Technology test for LISA mission Philae lander

Cheops 2017 Studying exoplanets around nearby Venus Express 2005 Exploring Venus and its
bright stars atmosphere

JWST 2018 Second-generation space telescope BepiColombo 2016 Exploring the planet Mercury

Euclid 2020 Probing dark matter, dark energy and ExoMars 2016 Mars orbiter and lander
the expanding Universe
ExoMars 2018 Mars rover and surface platform
Plato 2024 Studying extrasolar planetary systems
JUICE 2022 Characterising conditions of ocean-
Athena 2028 X-ray astronomy bearing moons around Jupiter

3
 earth observation
→ SPACE FOR EARTH

What is happening to our planet? Satellites are unique in their ability to constantly
monitor the entire Earth: they can provide crucial information about our ever-changing
planet. From space, we monitor many natural and man-made events, from floods and
forest fires, to changes in ice cover, rising sea levels and oil slicks.

ESA’s Earth observation satellites environmental and civil security data and
have given Europe a leading role in information for its citizens.
understanding the global environment,
increasing our knowledge about Earth’s The success of Copernicus is being achieved
weather and climate change. Since the largely through ESA’s well-engineered
1970s, the Meteosat series of weather Space Component to provide essential
satellites has provided a wealth of data satellite data according to European policy
for the meteorology community. Envisat priorities. This includes the development
and the ERS remote-sensing satellites have of a series of Sentinel satellites, and the
allowed scientists to build datasets on integration of national and European
environmental phenomena and climate missions to guarantee continuity of data
change for 20 years. and services.

The Earth Explorer satellites are giving CLIMATE CHANGE

scientists the chance of using breakthrough
technologies to address specific issues Over the last decades, satellites observing
and learn more about interaction between Earth have been providing an ever-clearer
the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, picture of the health of our planet and the
cryosphere and the interior, and about the signs of climate change.
impact that human activity is having on
Earth’s natural processes. ESA’s Climate Change Initiative exploits
archive satellite records going back
The EarthWatch missions ensure continuity three decades combined with data from
of datasets and provide operational services. new missions to produce information
Developed with Eumetsat, the first two on a wide range of variables such as
Meteosat Second Generation satellites greenhouse-gas concentrations, sea-ice
and MetOp-A, Europe’s first polar-orbiting extent and thickness, and sea-surface
meteorological satellite, are operational. temperature and salinity.

ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY This strategy of generating datasets of

Essential Climate Variables provides Europe
Space-based observation of Earth is an with a powerful tool to monitor the state of
essential source of information for decision- the climate system and to help predict the
makers in responding to challenges such as effects that a changing climate may bring.
global environmental change and security.
WATCHING THE WEATHER
Information must be of practical use, arriving
quickly and economically, and be accessible What will tomorrow’s weather bring?
to those using it. Copernicus, previously Regular, accurate weather forecasts are
known as GMES, is a joint initiative crucial to many activities: aviation, shipping,
between the EU and ESA, will consolidate agriculture, fishing, construction, and even
Europe’s capacity to collect and manage sport and leisure.

↖ Satellite measurements showing nitrogen dioxide as a pollutant, produced by burning fossil fuels
↖ Earth's gravity revealed in unprecedented detail by GOCE
← Hurricane Sandy approaching North America in October 2012, as seen by Europe's MetOp-A
(Eumetsat)

4
 Meteorological satellites provide data on
weather systems by using instruments
to monitor clouds and winds, measure
temperatures and pressure and many
other surface conditions on land, sea and
in the air.

As a result of the cooperation between

ESA and Eumetsat, Europe has a fleet of
meteorological satellites to provide better
knowledge about our planet’s weather and
climate. The Meteosat series monitor Earth
from geostationary orbit while MetOp is the
first European meteorological satellite in
polar orbit.

Work has started on developing the next

generation of meteorological satellites,
Meteosat Third Generation.

→ From space, we monitor many natural and

man-made events, from floods and forest fires,
to changes in ice cover and rising sea levels

→ EARTH OBSERVATION MISSIONS

CryoSat-2 2010 Ice sheets and marine ice cover
Name Launch Mission
MSG-3 2012 Operational meteorology

Meteosat-1 1977 Pre-operational meteorological services MetOp-B 2012 Polar meteorology

Meteosat-2 1981 Pre-operational meteorological services Sentinel-1 2013 Operational radar imaging

Meteosat-3 1988 Pre-operational meteorological services Swarm 2013 Magnetic field studies

Meteosat-4 1989 Operational meteorology Sentinel-2 2014 Land monitoring

Meteosat-5 1991 Operational meteorology Sentinel-3 2014 Marine monitoring

ERS-1 1991 Pre-operational Earth observation radar MSG-4 2015 Operational meteorology

Meteosat-6 1993 Operational meteorology Aeolus 2016 Atmospheric dynamics

ERS-2 1995 Pre-operational Earth observation radar Sentinel-5 Precursor 2016 Payload for atmospheric monitoring

Meteosat-7 1997 Operational meteorology Sentinel-4 2017 Payload for atmospheric monitoring

Proba-1 2001 Technology/Earth observation EarthCARE 2018 Radiation and cloud interaction

Envisat 2002 Earth observation MetOp-C 2018 Polar meteorological services

Meteosat-8 2002 Formerly MSG-1, operational MTG-I-1 2018 Meteosat Third Generation
meteorology
MTG-S-1 2020 Meteosat Third Generation
MSG-2 2005 Operational meteorology
Sentinel-5 2020 Payload for atmospheric monitoring
MetOp-A 2006 Meteorological services
Biomass 2020 Studying the world’s tropical forests
GOCE 2009 Gravity field and geoid
Earth Explorer 8
SMOS 2009 Soil moisture and ocean salinity

5
 galileo & navigation-related activities
→ SPACE TO LOCATE

After mobile phones and the internet, satellite navigation is the latest high-tech
addition to our everyday lives. Spacecraft orbiting Earth can tell you exactly where
you are, 24 hours a day.

Car and truck drivers, farmers, yachtsmen It made its first positioning in March 2013,
and hikers have all discovered the benefits during its In-Orbit Validation phase, proving
of satellite navigation. Air traffic control, the concept. These four satellites were joined
shipping, rescue operations, crisis by Satellites 5 and 6 in August 2014 and then
management and law enforcement services 7 and 8 in March 2015. The constellation
have all been revolutionised by more build-up will now progress at a steady rate
accurate and reliable positioning systems. leading to its completion of 30 satellites and
its associated ground segment.
Determined to provide Europe with its own
independent global civil satellite navigation The range of potential applications for
system, the European Commission and ESA Galileo is extremely wide. Looking beyond
have devised a two-step approach. the transport sector, where it will increase
safety, efficiency and comfort, its advanced
The already operational EGNOS, which technological features and its commercially
augments GPS, is used in numerous European oriented services will make it a valuable tool
airports for safer approaches and landings. for many more economic sectors.

The worldwide Galileo system started with Initial services including Open Service,
two demonstration missions GIOVE-A and B. Search And Rescue and Public Regulated
Service are planned for 2016. Interoperable
with GPS, Galileo signals will be treated
by receivers in a fully transparent way.
Multiplying the satellites in space will
improve reliability and accuracy on Earth.

↖ The first two Galileo satellites were launched

from Europe's Spaceport in 2011
← Satellites in the Galileo constellation

→ GALILEO NAVIGATION

Name Launch Mission

GIOVE-A 2005 Demonstration mission

GIOVE-B 2008 Demonstration mission

IOV x2 2011 In-orbit Validation to

qualify Galileo design

IOV x2 2012 In-orbit Validation to

qualify Galileo design

Galileo 5/6 2014 Full Operational Capability satellites

Galileo 7/8 2015 Full Operational Capability satellites

← Satellite positioning has already become the standard way of navigating,

now essential for the efficient running of transport systems and also human
safety (Zetapress)

6
 telecommunications & integrated applications
→ SPACE TO COMMUNICATE

Global communications underpin modern society and represent an

important commercial sector. Satellites are a fundamental part of global
telecommunications networks, providing all kind of services, efficiently and
seamlessly, over almost every region of our planet.

ESA’s Advanced Research in Most of ESA’s support to satcom technology

Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) is in public–private partnerships with
programmes transform research and companies from all over Europe. These
development investment into successful partnerships stimulate breakthroughs
commercial products, and are central to by sharing the risk between ESA and
European and Canadian industries remaining industry, making it easier to take on
world-class competitors. These programmes potentially game-changing projects.
enable companies of participating states to One is the European Data Relay System
increase competitiveness, access new markets, (EDRS): an independent European network
encourage growth and foster innovation. for transmission of large quantities of
satellite data. Another, Electra, will develop
EXPANDING AT EVERY LEVEL a communications satellite with full
electric-propulsion. Atlas is an extension
Europe currently takes home 35% of global of an ARTES element that supports 'first
commercial satellite orders and the sector is flight' opportunities for experiments on
growing steadily. Global revenue has nearly commercial telecoms satellites.
tripled in the past decade. ESA supports the
deployment of new satellites and programmes SATCOM FOR SEA AND SKY…
that help companies compete on the global
market by providing them with the means to Iris is an air-to-ground communications
diversify their products and enter new markets. system for safer and more precise air traffic
management. The maritime sector is set to
Alphasat is the biggest European telecom benefit from SAT-AIS, which uses satellites
satellite ever built, based on Alphabus, to extend the reach of identification
the next generation of large platforms for messages from ship to shore.
high-power telecom satellites. SmallGEO is
a flexible geostationary satellite platform …AND EVERYWHERE ELSE
for smaller spacecraft. The ‘Next Generation’
geostationary platform Neosat is ESA’s ESA’s ARTES programme includes
offering to the mid-range market, which the development of applications that
makes up the bulk of satellite orders. provide solutions to the needs and
Quantum is a pioneering mission that challenges faced by society, in areas such ↑ Integrated applications: combining
will influence how telecom satellites are as health, agriculture, security, energy and the use of different types of satellites,
procured and manufactured in Europe by more – all making use of multiple space such as telecommunications, Earth observation
validating a new, generic payload design. assets to improve our daily lives. and navigation

→ TELECOMMUNICATIONS MISSIONS Olympus 1989 Telecoms technology demonstration

Name Launch Mission Artemis 2001 Telecoms technology demonstration

Hylas-1 2010 Broadband services in public‒private

OTS-2 1978 Telecoms technology demonstration partnership

Marecs-A 1981 Maritime communications Alphasat 2013 Next-generation telecoms satellite

ECS-1 1983 Operational communications satellite SmallGEO 2015/6 Geostationary telecoms

ECS-2 1984 Operational communications satellite EDRS-A 2015 Data relay satellite

Marecs-B2 1984 Maritime communications EDRS-C 2016 Data relay satellite

ECS-4 1987 Operational communications satellite Neosat 2018 Geostationary telecoms

ECS-5 1988 Operational communications satellite Electra 2019 Telecoms with electric propulsion

7
 technology
→ SPACE TO INNOVATE

What accounts for the continued commercial success of European space? The answer
is innovation. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development notes a
third of all new space patents are filed in Europe, second only to the United States.

Europe’s space industry stays smarter than energy challenges on Earth and the building
its international competitors thanks to a blocks for human and robotic exploration.
steady stream of technology development,
coordinated by ESA’s Technology programmes. BRINGING SPACE DOWN TO EARTH

Technology lies at the foundation of ESA’s Technology programmes also prioritise

everything ESA does. ESA’s technology research the transfer of high-performance technologies
and development programmes are run on to terrestrial markets, fostering new businesses
a 5–10 year time span, from investigating and boosting wider European competitiveness.
promising new ideas to finalising hardware for
actual spaceflight – and commercial markets. The transfer of these space technologies to
our daily lives brings real benefits in many
Cross-cutting initiatives address directly the key ways. Space technologies are already being
technological challenges of this new century: used to improve the well-being of ordinary
sustainability of space activities on Earth and citizens through, for example, healthcare
in orbit; key advances in scientific instruments; products, improved waste management and
space technologies that can help address the water recovery.

→ TECHNOLOGY MISSION
Name Launch Mission

Proba-1 2001 Technology demonstrator/Earth observation

Proba-2 2009 Technology demonstrator/science

Proba-V 2013 Technology demonstrator/Earth observation

Proba-3 2018 Formation flying/solar science

↖ Proba-3 is ESA’s first close formation-flying mission. A pair of satellites will fly together on a
coordinated basis, evaluating techniques for flying in tandem
← A running PPS 1350 Hall effect thruster, as used on Alphasat
↓ ESA’s world-class laboratories use an unrivalled combination of expert knowledge and specialised
equipment (ESA/G. Schoonewille)

8
launchers
→ ACCESS TO SPACE

Self-sufficiency in sending satellites into orbit is vital for Europe’s independence in

space. Since the beginning of the Ariane programme in 1973, a highly successful
series of launchers has been developed, from Ariane 1 through to Ariane 5.

The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher ensures that When you launch a satellite, any extra
Europe maintains its competitive edge in the speed gained from Earth’s rotation is
global launcher market. The current Ariane 5 welcome. This boost is strongest near the
ECA can deliver almost 10 tonnes into the Equator, so Kourou is the best placed of all
geostationary transfer orbits needed for the world’s major spaceports. Spent rockets
many satellites. fall safely into the open ocean, and the
same is true for launchers sent northwards,
Smaller launchers are still needed to meet when different kinds of orbits are required.
the market for smaller satellites, adding
greater flexibility to the range of European Developed by France in the late 1960s,
launch capabilities. ESA has developed Vega, the launch site is now used by ESA for its
capable of lifting up to 1.5 tonnes into low Ariane, Vega and Soyuz rockets.
Earth orbit, and Russia’s medium-lift Soyuz
vehicles are being launched from Europe’s
Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana. → Europe’s growing launcher family:
Vega, Soyuz at CSG and Ariane 5 will soon
Today, European launch services are the be joined by Ariane 6
most reliable in the world. But economically
speaking, they operate in a commercial market
where competitors are heavily supported
by a guaranteed governmental market. To
meet this challenge of competitiveness, ESA
is developing the new Ariane 6 for a maiden
flight in 2020. Ariane 6 will be a modular three-
stage launcher with two configurations, using
boosters in common with the Vega vehicle.

For the future, ESA is reviewing new

technologies and propulsion systems with
experts from Europe’s research centres and
aerospace industry, to make access to space
simpler and cheaper.

EUROPE’S SPACEPORT

Situated between a rain forest and the

Atlantic coast of South America, Kourou
in French Guiana has become a familiar
venue to space engineers and their
customers from around the world. It is
the home of the Guiana Space Centre –
Europe’s Spaceport.

The high levels of efficiency, safety and

reliability at Europe’s Spaceport are well
known. In addition to its many European
clients, the spaceport also undertakes
launches for customers in the USA, Japan,
Canada, India and Brazil.

→ Launch of Ariane 5 ECA at Europe’s Spaceport

in French Guiana (ESA/CNES/Arianespace -
Optique Vidéo du CSG)

9
 human spaceflight & operations
→ SPACE FOR LIFE

European astronauts have been taking part in human spaceflight missions for
over three decades, either flying on the US Space Shuttle or Russian Soyuz
spacecraft, first to the Mir space station and then to the International Space
Station (ISS), gaining a wealth of experience.

The first ESA astronaut, Ulf Merbold, flew Following the success of ATV, and to offset
into space in 1983. In 1998, the European obligations towards ISS partners, ESA is
Astronaut Centre was established in developing the ATV-derived European
Germany to prepare European astronauts for Service Module for the NASA Multi-Purpose
missions to the ISS. Many have already flown Crew Vehicle Orion.
to the ISS, playing a vital role in the assembly
and operation of key elements of the station. EXPLORING THE NEW FRONTIER

Today, new astronauts have been selected Space exploration is a great geopolitical
and are taking part in missions to the ISS, opportunity and those nations that
and eventually future human spaceflight participate and contribute to a significant
missions beyond. level in space exploration will shape
the current international principles
EUROPE AND THE INTERNATIONAL regulating the use of outer space. ESA
SPACE STATION will ensure that Europe plays a key role
in this future international exploration
The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye as it of space. Through the exploitation of
flies 400 km overhead. It is a masterpiece of the ISS, experience in human spaceflight
global cooperation, uniting the USA, Russia, operations will be significantly increased,
Japan, Canada and Europe in the largest but Europe has also been involved in
partnership in the history of science. international planning for exploration
beyond Earth orbit.
Europe’s involvement in this partnership
through ESA continues to be a story of These exploration plans focus on robotic
major technical and scientific achievement. missions that will prepare the way, subject to
It has been a huge stimulus for European affordability, for human settlements on the
industry, which has taken great strides Moon and the robotic exploration of Mars.
in the development and manufacture of A long-term goal after 2030 could also be
cutting-edge space systems and hardware. the first human mission to Mars. A series
of manned and unmanned missions will
Europe’s key contribution is the multi- test and develop the technologies and
purpose science laboratory, Columbus. knowledge that will get humans safely to
Here, scientists can send experiments to be Mars and back. These will require advances
carried out in weightless conditions. With in many areas, such as guidance systems,
the ISS completed, utilisation of this unique robotics, radiation-hardening, propulsion
facility and the exploitation of the unrivalled and life-support systems.
opportunities it offers are well under way.
WHERE MISSIONS COME ALIVE
ESA also provided the Automated Transfer
Vehicle (ATV) – a series of unmanned ferries Along with the European contribution to the
that dock and undock automatically, each ISS, including ATV production, its scientific
carrying a cargo of food, propellant and and technical utilisation and other human
other supplies. The ATVs also helped the ISS spaceflight activities, ESA also manages the
maintain its attitude, and remove waste for flight operations of all it missions and their
incineration in the atmosphere. corresponding ground segment elements.

↖ The International Space Station (NASA/ESA)

↖ Studying space weather is a key element of Space Situational Awareness
← ESOC's Main Control Room, Darmstadt

10
The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), → EUROPEAN ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE
in Darmstadt, Germany, serves as the main
control centre for ESA missions, and hosts Vladimir Remek (CZ) Michel Tognini (FR) Pedro Duque (ES)
the Estrack Control Centre – which manages Soyuz 28 1978 Antarès/Soyuz TM-15 1992 STS-95 1998
STS-93 1999 Cervantes/Soyuz TMA-3 2003
the ESA tracking station network, Estrack. Miroslaw Hermaszewski (PL)
This worldwide system of ground stations Soyuz 30 1978 Franco Malerba (IT) Ivan Bella (SL)
provides links between satellites in orbit and STS-46 1992 Soyuz TM-29 1999
Siegmund Jähn (DE)
ESOC, with 10 stations in seven countries. The Soyuz 31 1978 Claude Nicollier (CH) Gerhard Thiele (DE)
essential task of all ESA tracking stations is STS-46 1992 STS-99 2000
to communicate with our missions, uplink Georgi Ivanov (BG) STS-61 1993
Soyuz 33 1979 STS-75 1996 Roberto Vittori (IT)
commands and downlink scientific data and STS-103 1999 Marco Polo/Soyuz TM-34 2002
spacecraft status information. Bertalan Farkas (HU) Eneide/Soyuz TMA-6 2005
Soyuz 36 1980 Hans Schlegel (DE) DAMA/STS-134 2011
STS-55 1993
Based on experience since 1967 in controlling Dimitru Prunariu (RO) STS-122 2008 Philippe Perrin (FR)
over 60 missions and the capability to Soyuz 40 1981 STS-111 2002
manage multiple spacecraft at once, we Ulrich Walter (DE)
Jean-Loup Chrétien (FR) STS-55 1993 Frank De Winne (BE)
also provide our mission control expertise to Soyuz T-6 1982 Odissea/Soyuz TMA-1 2002
outside agencies and customers. In addition Soyuz TM-7 1988 Jean-Pierre Haigneré (FR) OasISS/Soyuz TMA-15 2009
to operating missions, ESA provides world- STS-86 1997 Altair/Soyuz TM-17 1993
Perseus/Soyuz TM-29 1999 André Kuipers (NL)
class services to a variety of internal and Ulf Merbold (DE) Delta/Soyuz TMA-4 2004
external clients for space debris tracking and STS-9 1983 Jean-François Clervoy (FR) PromISSe/Soyuz TMA-03M 2011
STS-42 1992 STS-66 1994
collision alerts, geodata analysis, software Euromir 94/Soyuz TM-20 1994 STS-84 1997 Christer Fuglesang (SE)
development and navigation. STS-103 1999 Celsius/STS-116 2006
Patrick Baudry (FR) Alissé/STS-128 2009
STS-51G 1985 Thomas Reiter (DE)
SPACE FOR SECURITY Euromir 95/Soyuz TM-22 1995/6 Paolo Nespoli (IT)
Reinhard Furrer (DE) Astrolab/STS-121 2006 STS-120 2007
The Space Situational Awareness (SSA) STS-61A 1985 MagISStra/Soyuz TMA-20 2010
Maurizio Cheli (IT)
initiative aims to provide Europe with Ernst Messerschmid (DE) STS-75 1996 Luca Parmitano (IT)
services to protect satellites and Earth. The STS-61A 1985 Volare/Soyuz TMA-09M 2013
initiative supports Europe’s independent Umberto Guidoni (IT)
Wubbo Ockels (NL) STS-75 1996 Alexander Gerst (DE)
utilisation of space, through provision of STS-61A 1985 STS-100 2001 Blue Dot/Soyuz TMA-13M 2014
timely and accurate information about the
space environment. SSA will strengthen Alexander Alexandrov (BG) Jean-Jaques Favier (FR) Samantha Cristoforetti (IT)
Soyuz TM-5 1988 STS-78 1996 Futura/Soyuz TMA-15M 2014
reliability, availability and security of
Europe’s space-based services. It will be Helen Sharman (GB) Claudie Haigneré (FR) Andreas Mogensen (DK)
coordinated with international partners and Soyuz TM-12 1991 Cassiopée/Soyuz TM-24 1996 Iriss/Soyuz TMA-18M 2015
Andromède/Soyuz TM-33 2001
the institutions of the European Union. Franz Viehböck (AT) Timothy Peake (GB)
Soyuz TM-13 1991 Reinhold Ewald (DE) Principia/Soyuz TMA-19M 2015
European industry will benefit from new Soyuz TM-25 1997
Klaus-Dietrich Flade (DE)
contracts and world-class competitive Soyuz TM-14 1992 Léopold Eyharts (FR)
capabilities gained through development of Pégase/Soyuz TM-27 1998
Dirk Frimout (BE) STS-122 2008
the SSA infrastructure and services. STS-45 1992

↓ ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel makes a spacewalk during the installation of the European Columbus laboratory on the ISS (NASA)

11
 THE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS OF TOMORROW

Young people are always fascinated by space through specific programmes and projects.
exploration. It can capture their imagination, Higher education students get the
propelling them into a multitude of scientific chance to meet the experts – including
and technological careers. astronauts – and gain hands-on experience
in designing space experiments. We also
ESA draws on this curiosity to help encourage students from different European
stimulate a wider interest, encouraging universities to network, preparing them
an increasingly knowledge-based society to become the skilled and knowledgeable
in Europe, by motivating youngsters to workforce of tomorrow.
enhance their literacy in science and
technology. Generating an interest at an Education activities also support the ESA
early age is important because the future recruitment process, through a unique set
development of space will depend on these of projects. These range from designing
young scientists and engineers. small satellites to initiatives that foster
the transfer of ESA knowhow and provide
Together with partners, ESA supports academic support to research of interest
teachers to tackle space-related subjects to ESA.

Space programmes need resources. This means funds, people and expertise.
ESA employs around 2200 permanent staff, spread among its main centres
and smaller offices around the world.

ESA’S BUDGET BY PROGRAMME IN 2015 (MEURO)

*includes Third Party Activities

12
 headquarters
Located in Paris, home to the main programme
directorates that steer and formulate ESA policy.
ESA’S 22 MEMBER STATES ARE:

20 states of the EU
Austria
Belgium estec
Czech Republic The European Space Research and Technology
Denmark Centre, Noordwijk, the Netherlands, is the largest
Estonia site and the technical heart of ESA.

Finland
France
Germany
Greece esoc
Hungary The European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt,
Ireland Germany, tracks and controls European spacecraft.
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland esrin
Portugal ESA’s centre for Earth observation activities, near
Romania Rome, Italy, also develops information systems
Spain and hosts the Vega launcher project.
Sweden
United Kingdom

plus Norway and Switzerland. eac

The European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany,
Seven other EU states have Cooperation Agreements with trains astronauts for missions to the International
Space Station and beyond.
ESA: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia
and Slovenia. Discussions are ongoing with Croatia.
Canada takes part in some programmes under a long-
standing Cooperation Agreement. esac
The European Space Astronomy Centre, near
Madrid, Spain, hosts the science operation centres
and archives for ESA’s astronomy and planetary
missions.

redu
Redu Centre in Belgium is part of ESA’s ground
station network and is also home to ESA's Space
Weather Data Centre.

ecsat
ECSAT in Oxfordshire, UK, supports activities related
to telecommunications, integrated applications,
climate change, technology and science.

guiana space centre

ESA’s launchers lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in
Kourou, French Guiana. It is jointly operated by the
French space agency (CNES) and Arianespace with
the support of European industry.
CONTACT

ESA HQ
France
+33 1 53 69 76 54

ESTEC
The Netherlands
+31 71 565 6565

ESOC
Germany
+49 6151 900

ESRIN
Italy
+39 06 941 801

ESAC
Spain
+34 91 813 1100

EAC
Germany
+49 2203 6001 111

ESA Redu
Belgium
+32 61 229512

ECSAT
United Kingdom
+44 1235 567900

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