European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental European space agency established in 1975. Its role is to develop and carry out Europe’s civil space programme. ESA provides a framework in which its Member States combine resources for peaceful space activities, bringing national contributions together in a shared European programme. Its work spans Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, astronomy, exploration, launchers and space safety. These areas define the stated scope of the programme, from Earth observation and navigation to astronomy, exploration, launchers and space safety. The remit described here is civil and peaceful space activity; this profile does not assign ESA military functions or activities outside those areas.