European Space Agency
Overview
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975, the agency is tasked with the development and implementation of the European space programme. 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.
History
The European Space Agency was formed out of the merger of two earlier organizations: the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) and the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO). The decision to merge these two entities was made in order to create a single agency capable of developing competitive space technology and programmes in Europe.
Structure and Membership
The European Space Agency is governed by a Council, which is the agency's main decision-making body. The Council is composed of representatives from each of the agency's member states. The Council's role is to oversee the agency's activities and approve its budget, programmes, and overall policies.
As of 2021, the European Space Agency has 22 member states. These include all 27 EU member states, as well as Switzerland and Norway. Canada also participates in some projects under a Cooperation Agreement.
Programmes and Activities
The European Space Agency conducts a wide range of programmes and activities related to space exploration and technology. These include:
- Human spaceflight: The agency participates in the International Space Station (ISS) programme and has sent astronauts on numerous missions to the station. The agency is also developing the Ariane 6 rocket, which will be capable of carrying astronauts to the ISS and other destinations in low Earth orbit.
- Satellite development: The agency develops and launches a variety of satellites for scientific research, Earth observation, telecommunications, and navigation. Notable satellites include the Galileo navigation system and the Copernicus Earth observation programme.
- Planetary science: The agency conducts missions to other planets in our solar system, including Mars and Jupiter. The Mars Express and JUICE missions are examples of the agency's planetary science activities.
- Space science: The agency conducts a variety of scientific research missions in space. These include missions to study the Sun, such as the Solar Orbiter, and missions to study black holes, such as the Athena mission.
Future Plans
The European Space Agency has numerous future plans and programmes under development. These include the ExoMars rover mission to Mars, the Euclid mission to study dark energy and dark matter, and the LISA mission to detect gravitational waves.
The agency is also planning to participate in the Artemis program, a NASA-led international effort to return humans to the Moon by 2024. As part of this effort, the agency is developing the European Service Module, which will provide propulsion and life support for the Orion spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the Moon.