European Space Agency

European Space Agency News

ABOUT ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space, made up of a 22-member intergovernmental body. ESA’s mission is to mold the expansion of Europe’s space capability. Furthermore, the ESA is dedicated to strife-free cooperation among European States in technology and space research, for the betterment of all mankind.

ESA Operation

ESA’s governing body is called The Council, represented by each member state. In Fact, The Council provides the policy guidelines within which ESA develops and expands their space program. Regardless, of the Member State’s financial contribution they are limited to just one vote.
Furthermore, The Council elects a Director General every four years. Each research sector has its own Directorate. Each Directorate reports directly to the Director General. See the list of research sectors below.

ESA’s headquarters are in Paris which is where programs and policies are decided.
EAC, the European Astronauts Centre in Cologne, Germany;
ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany;
ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre, in Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain;
ESEC, the European space Security and Education Centre, Redu, Belgium.
ESRIN, the ESA centre for Earth Observation, in Frascati, near Rome, Italy;
ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
ECSAT, the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications, Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.