View source for European Space Agency

{{Short description|European organisation dedicated to space exploration}}
{{Distinguish|European Union Agency for the Space Programme}}
{{See also|List of European Space Agency programmes and missions}}
{{Redirect|ESA}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox Space agency
|name          = European Space Agency
|native_name   = {{Collapsible list
 |liststyle  = padding: 8px 0; text-align: left;
 |framestyle = width: 263px; border: none; font-size: 90%;
 |title      = <nowiki />
 |{{langx|cs|Evropská kosmická agentura}}
 |{{langx|da|Den Europæiske Rumorganisation}}
 |{{langx|de|link=no|Europäische Weltraumorganisation}}
 |{{langx|et|Euroopa Kosmoseagentuur}}
 |{{langx|fr|link=no|Agence spatiale européenne}}
 |{{langx|fi|Euroopan avaruusjärjestö}}
 |{{langx|el|Ευρωπαϊκός Οργανισμός Διαστήματος}}
 |{{langx|hu|Európai Űrügynökség}}
 |{{langx|ga|Gníomhaireacht Spáis na hEorpa}}
 |{{langx|it|Agenzia Spaziale Europea}}
 |{{langx|lb|Europäesch Weltraumorganisatioun}}
 |{{langx|nl|Europese Ruimtevaartorganisatie}}
 |{{langx|no|Den europeiske romfartsorganisasjon}}
 |{{langx|pl|Europejska Agencja Kosmiczna}}
 |{{langx|pt|Agência Espacial Europeia}}
 |{{langx|ro|Agenția Spațială Europeană}}
 |{{langx|rm|Agenzia spaziala europeica}}
 |{{langx|sl|Evropska vesoljska agencija}}
 |{{langx|es|Agencia Espacial Europea}}
 |{{langx|sv|Europeiska rymdorganisationen}}
}}
<!-- end list of ESA translations -->
|owners = {{Collapsible list|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 |title = 23 members
 |{{flagu|Austria}}
 |{{flagu|Belgium}}
 |{{flagu|Czechia}}
 |{{flagu|Denmark}}
 |{{flagu|Estonia}}
 |{{flagu|Finland}}
 |{{flagu|France}}
 |{{flagu|Germany}}
 |{{flagu|Greece}}
 |{{flagu|Hungary}}
 |{{flagu|Ireland}}
 |{{flagu|Italy}}
 |{{flagu|Luxembourg}}
 |{{flagu|Netherlands}}
 |{{flagu|Norway}}
 |{{flagu|Poland}}
 |{{flagu|Portugal}}
 |{{flagu|Romania}}
 |{{flagu|Slovenia}}
 |{{flagu|Spain}}
 |{{flagu|Sweden}}
 |{{flagu|Switzerland}}
 |{{flagu|United Kingdom}}
}}
|headquarters  = Paris, France
|coordinates   = {{Coord|48|50|54|N|02|18|15|E|type:landmark_region:FR-IDF|display=inline,title}}
|spaceport     = [[Guiana Space Centre]]
|image         = ESA Headquarters in Paris.jpg
|caption       = European Space Agency headquarters in Paris
|acronym       = {{hlist|class=nowrap |ESA |ASE |EW}}
|established   = {{start date and age|df=yes|1975|5|30}}
|employees     = 2,547 (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=ESA facts |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_facts |website=European Space Agency |access-date=13 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028013441/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_facts |url-status=live }}</ref>
|administrator = [[Josef Aschbacher]] ([[Director General of the European Space Agency]])
|budget        = {{increase}} €{{FXConvert|EUR|7.68|b|lk=on}} (2025)<ref name=budget2024>{{cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/01/ESA_budget_2025|title=ESA budget 2025|website=www.esa.int}}</ref> 
|language      =  English, French and German (working languages)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions2#:~:text=ESA's%20working%20languages%20are%20English,considered%20to%20be%20an%20asset. |title=Languages |access-date=5 November 2017 |archive-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118070326/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions2#:~:text=ESA's%20working%20languages%20are%20English,considered%20to%20be%20an%20asset. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions |title=Frequently asked questions |last=esa |access-date=20 August 2017 |archive-date=27 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827120826/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions |url-status=live }}</ref>
|website       = {{URL|https://www.esa.int/|esa.int}}
|logo          = [[File:European Space Agency logo.svg|frameless|upright=0.6|class=skin-invert]] [[File:ESA Patch 2025.svg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
|logo_caption  = ESA logo and [[Mission patch|patch]]
}}

The '''European Space Agency''' ('''ESA'''){{efn|{{langx|fr|Agence spatiale européenne|link=no}} {{pronunciation|LL-Q150 (fra)-Poslovitch-Agence spatiale européenne.wav}}, {{langx|it|Agenzia Spaziale Europea|link=no}}, {{langx|es|Agencia Espacial Europea|link=no}} '''ASE''';<ref name="European Space Agency">{{cite book |title=ESA Convention and Council Rules of Procedure |url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/SP-1317-EN/pageflip.html |chapter=Annex 1 Resolution 8 |page=116 |format=PDF |isbn=978-92-9092-965-9 |edition=5th |date=March 2010 |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606174053/http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/SP-1317-EN/pageflip.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lannuaire.service-public.fr/institutions-europeennes/institution-europeenne_185293 |date=23 February 2017 |title=Agence spatiale européenne (ASE)|trans-title=European Space Agency (ESA) |access-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010235105/https://lannuaire.service-public.fr/institutions-europeennes/institution-europeenne_185293 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{langx|de|Europäische Weltraumorganisation|link=no}}}} is a 23-member [[international organisation]] devoted to [[space exploration]].<ref name="ESA">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to ESA: New Member States |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Member_States_Cooperating_States |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108134756/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Member_States_Cooperating_States |archive-date=8 November 2019 |access-date=26 July 2017 |website=ESA}}</ref> It has its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=L'ESA : faits et chiffres |url=https://www.esa.int/Space_in_Member_States/France/L_ESA_faits_et_chiffres |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of [[European integration]]. Its 2025 annual budget was €7.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="budget2024" />

The ESA [[human spaceflight]] programme includes participation in the [[International Space Station|International Space Station (ISS)]] and collaboration with [[NASA]] on the [[Artemis program|Artemis]] programme, especially manufacturing of the [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] spacecraft's [[European Service Module|European Service Module (ESM)]]. ESA launches and operates uncrewed missions to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, and various comets and asteroids. Other activities include [[space telescope]]s, [[Earth observation satellite]]s, [[asteroid impact avoidance]], [[Communications satellite|telecommunication]] and [[Satellite navigation|navigation]] satellites, designing [[launch vehicle]]s (''e.g.'' [[Ariane 6]] is operated through [[Arianespace]] with ESA sharing in the costs), and maintaining Europe's [[Spaceport]] (the [[Guiana Space Centre]] at [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]]), as well as [[Space Safety Programme|space safety]] and commercialisation.

==Mission==
The treaty establishing the European Space Agency reads:<ref name="European Space Agency-2007">{{cite web |date=14 June 2007 |title=ESA's Purpose |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_s_Purpose |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910021142/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_s_Purpose |archive-date=10 September 2014 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"The purpose of the Agency shall be to provide for and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems."}}

ESA is responsible for setting a unified space and related industrial policy, recommending space objectives to the member states, and integrating national programs like satellite development, into the European program as much as possible.<ref name="European Space Agency-2007" />

[[Jean-Jacques Dordain]]—ESA's Director General (2003–2015)—outlined the European Space Agency's mission in a 2003 interview:<ref>{{cite web |date=31 October 2003 |title=Launching a New Era with JAXA: Interview with Jean-Jacques Dordain |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/news_topics/interview/vol4/index_e.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050706132534/http://www.jaxa.jp//news_topics/interview/vol4/index_e.html |archive-date=6 July 2005 |publisher=[[JAXA]]}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"Today space activities have pursued the benefit of citizens, and citizens are asking for a better quality of life on Earth. They want greater security and economic wealth, but they also want to pursue their dreams, to increase their knowledge, and they want younger people to be attracted to the pursuit of science and technology.<br><br>

I think that space can do all of this: it can produce a higher quality of life, better security, more economic wealth, and also fulfill our citizens' dreams and thirst for knowledge, and attract the young generation. This is the reason space exploration is an integral part of overall space activities. It has always been so, and it will be even more important in the future."}}
==History==
[[File:Euro Space Center in Belgium.JPG|thumb|[[Europa (rocket)|Europa II]] rocket (larger horizontal rocket in the background), [[Skylark (rocket)|Skylark]] sounding rocket (front center-left), and a model of the [[Ariane 4]] orbital rocket (to the right from Skylark) at [[Euro Space Center]]]]
[[File:ESTEC-PHOTO-1967.02.186-001.jpg|thumb|right| [[Pierre Auger (biologist)|Pierre Auger]] (far left) visiting the European Space Research and Technology Centre [[European Space Research and Technology Centre|ESTEC]] on 3 February 1967]]
After [[World War II]], many European scientists left Western Europe to work with the United States. Although the 1950s boom made it possible for Western European countries to invest in research and specifically in space-related activities, Western European scientists realised solely national projects would not be able to compete with the two superpowers. In 1958, only months after the [[Sputnik crisis|Sputnik shock]], [[Edoardo Amaldi]] (Italy) and [[Pierre Victor Auger|Pierre Auger]] (France), two prominent members of the Western European scientific community, met to discuss the foundation of a common Western European space agency. The meeting was attended by scientific representatives from eight countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=cern |date=31 May 2012 |title=Edoardo Amaldi and the origins of ESA |url=https://cerncourier.com/a/edoardo-amaldi-and-the-origins-of-esa/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=CERN Courier |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lebeau |first=Andre |date=1 August 2001 |title=Scientific organizations and European unification: a personal view |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X01000185 |journal=Technology in Society |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=349–359 |doi=10.1016/S0160-791X(01)00018-5 |issn=0160-791X|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>[https://netaffair.org/documents/2000-a-history-of-the-european-space-agency.pdf A History of the European Space Agency]</ref>

The Western European nations decided to have two agencies: one concerned with developing a launch system, [[European Launcher Development Organisation|ELDO]] (European Launcher Development Organisation), of which Renzo Carrobio di Carrobio became the first Secretary General from 1964 to 1971,<ref>https://www.esa.int/About_Us/50_years_of_ESA/Renzo_Carrobio_di_Carrobio</ref> and the other the precursor of the European Space Agency, [[ESRO]] (European Space Research Organisation), led by [[Pierre Auger]]. The latter was established on 20 March 1964 by an agreement signed on 14 June 1962. From 1968 to 1972, ESRO launched seven research satellites, but ELDO was not able to deliver a launch vehicle. Both agencies struggled with the underfunding and diverging interests of their participants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commemorating 60 years since the ELDO and ESRO Conventions {{!}} ESA Archives Portal |url=https://historicalarchives.esa.int/commemorating-60-years-eldo-and-esro-conventions-0 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250609033350/https://historicalarchives.esa.int/commemorating-60-years-eldo-and-esro-conventions-0 |archive-date=9 June 2025 |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=historicalarchives.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=European Space Vehicle Launcher Development Organisation |url=https://archives.eui.eu/en/isaar/10}}</ref>[[File:SOHO ESA350759.jpg|thumb|[[Solar and Heliospheric Observatory|Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)]] observing the Sun]]
[[File:STS-9 Spacelab 1.jpg|thumb|[[Spacelab]] on [[STS-9]]]]
[[File:The Ulysses spacecraft undergoes testing at the vacuum spin-balancing facility in ESTEC.jpg|thumb|''[[Ulysses (spacecraft)|Ulysses]]'' spacecraft]]
[[File:Jules verne at iss.jpg|thumb|[[Jules Verne ATV|ATV ''Jules Verne'']] near the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]
[[File:Titansurface-2-hi-1-.jpg|thumb|''[[Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens]]'' landing on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]]]
[[File:Rosetta and Philae at comet (11206660686).jpg|thumb|''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]'' and ''[[Philae (spacecraft)|Philae]]'']]
[[File:Iss065e241659.jpg|thumb|[[Cupola (ISS module)|Cupola]] module on the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]
[[File:Juice launch kit cover close-up.png|thumb|[[Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer|JUICE]] at [[Jupiter]]]]
[[File:Artemis 1 - Orion and ESM approach Moon.jpg|thumb|[[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] and [[European Service Module|ESM]] approach the Moon]]
[[File:Euclid looking into the Universe ESA24697255 (cropped).jpg|thumb|''[[Euclid (spacecraft)|Euclid]]'' space telescope]]
[[File:Ariane 6 on pad.jpg|thumb|[[Ariane 6]] rocket]]

=== Foundation ===
The ESA in its current form was founded with the ESA Convention in 1975, when ESRO was merged with ELDO. ESA had ten founding member states: Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/ESA_turns_30!_A_successful_track_record_for_Europe_in_space |title=ESA turns 30! A successful track record for Europe in space |publisher=European Space Agency |date=31 May 2005 |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920085556/http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/ESA_turns_30!_A_successful_track_record_for_Europe_in_space |url-status=live }}</ref> These signed the ESA Convention in 1975 and deposited the instruments of ratification by 1980, when the convention came into force.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNTC |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/showDetails.aspx?objid=08000002800df46b |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=treaties.un.org}}</ref> During this interval the agency functioned in a ''de facto'' fashion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signature of the Convention to entry in force: the last chapter in the creation of ESA |url=https://historicalarchives.esa.int/signature-convention-entry-force-last-chapter-creation-esa}}</ref>

===First science missions===
ESA launched its first major scientific mission in 1975, ''[[Cos-B]]'', a satelite monitoring [[Gamma-ray astronomy|gamma-ray emissions]] in the universe, which was first worked on by [[European Space Research Organisation|ESRO]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=COS B |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cos-b.htm |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}</ref> ESA collaborated with [[NASA]] on the [[International Ultraviolet Explorer|International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE)]], the world's first high-orbit telescope, which was launched in 1978 and operated successfully for 18 years.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Heck |first1=A. |last2=Beeckmans |first2=F. |last3=Benvenuti |first3=P. |last4=Cassatella |first4=A. |last5=Clavel |first5=J. |last6=Macchetto |first6=F. |last7=Penston |first7=M. V. |last8=Selvelli |first8=P. L. |last9=Stickland |first9=D. |date=1978 |title=The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1978Msngr..15...27H/abstract |journal=The Messenger |language=en |volume=15 |pages=27–31 |bibcode=1978Msngr..15...27H |issn=0722-6691}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=International Ultraviolet Explorer Is Launched |department=EBSCO Research Starters |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/physics/international-ultraviolet-explorer-launched |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=en}}</ref> A number of successful Earth-orbit projects followed, and in 1986 ESA began [[Giotto mission|''Giotto'']], its first deep-space mission, to study the comets [[Comet Halley|Halley]] and [[26P/Grigg–Skjellerup|Grigg–Skjellerup]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coates |first=Andrew |title=ESA's Giotto mission to comets Halley and Grigg-Skjellerup |url=https://university.open.ac.uk/science/research/rosetta/node/208 |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=The Open University |language=en-gb}}</ref> ''[[Hipparcos]]'', a star-mapping mission, was launched in 1989<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Hipparchus to Hipparcos: Measuring the Universe |url=https://wwwhip.obspm.fr/heritage/hipparcos/SandT/hip-SandT.html |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=wwwhip.obspm.fr}}</ref> and in the 1990s [[Solar and Heliospheric Observatory|SOHO]], ''[[Ulysses probe|Ulysses]]'', and the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] were all jointly carried out with NASA.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bonnet |first1=R. M. |last2=Felici |first2=F. |date=1 January 1997 |title=Overview of the SOHO mission |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117797008946 |journal=Advances in Space Research |series=Proceedings of the E2.1 Symposium of COSPAR Scientific Commission E |volume=20 |issue=12 |pages=2207–2218 |bibcode=1997AdSpR..20.2207B |doi=10.1016/S0273-1177(97)00894-6 |issn=0273-1177 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 November 1999 |title=Hubble Space Telescope-The Telescope, the Observations & the Servicing Mission |url=https://spacenews.com/hubble-space-telescope-the-telescope-the-observations-the-servicing-mission/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/5981/chapter/4 |title=U.S.-European Collaboration in Space Science |date=1998 |publisher=National Academies Press |isbn=978-0-309-05984-8 |language=en |chapter=Historical Context of U.S.-European Cooperation |doi=10.17226/5981 |bibcode=1998nap..book.5981N }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Ulysses Spacecraft Ends Historic Mission of Discovery |date=30 June 2009 |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ulysses-spacecraft-ends-historic-mission-of-discovery/ |website=[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]}}</ref> Later scientific missions in cooperation with NASA include the ''[[Cassini–Huygens]]'' space probe, to which the ESA contributed by building the [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] landing module ''[[Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2020 |title=ESA's Huygens probe landed on Saturn's moon Titan 15 years ago |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/14/esas-huygens-probe-landed-on-saturns-moon-titan-15-years-ago/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=Spaceflight Now |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== First launch vehicles ===
As the successor of [[European Launcher Development Organisation|ELDO]], the ESA has also constructed rockets for scientific and commercial payloads. [[Ariane 1]], launched in 1979, carried mostly commercial payloads into orbit from 1984 onward. The next two versions of the [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane rocket family]] were intermediate stages in the development of a more advanced launch system, the [[Ariane 4]], which operated between 1988 and 2003 and established the ESA as the world leader in commercial space launches in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Ariane_42 |title=Ariane 4 / Launchers / Our Activities / ESA |publisher=European Space Agency |date=14 May 2004 |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225130619/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Ariane_42 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spaceflight :Arianespace and the Ariane Family of Rockets |url=https://www.centennialofflight.net/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/ariane/SP42.htm |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=www.centennialofflight.net}}</ref> Although the succeeding [[Ariane 5]] experienced a failure on its first flight in 1996,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ariane 501 – Presentation of Inquiry Board report |url=https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Ariane_501_-_Presentation_of_Inquiry_Board_report |access-date=23 August 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> it has since firmly established itself within the heavily competitive commercial space launch market with 112 successful launches until 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket to retire after 27 years service – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/07/04/europes-workhorse-ariane-5-rocket-to-retire-after-27-years-service/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ending an era, Europe launches its final Ariane 5 rocket – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/07/06/ending-an-era-europe-launches-its-final-ariane-5-rocket/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1998, ESA started developing the [[Small-lift launch vehicle|small-lift]] launch vehicle [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agency |first=European Space |title=ESA's Vega rocket marks ten years with countdown to more powerful successor |url=https://phys.org/news/2022-02-esa-vega-rocket-ten-years.html |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=phys.org |language=en}}</ref> which has since flown 22 times between 2012 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-09-05 |title=Final original Vega launches Sentinel-2C |url=https://spacenews.com/final-original-vega-launches-sentinel-2c/ |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ESA in the 2000s ===
The beginning of the new millennium saw the ESA become, along with agencies like [[NASA]] and [[JAXA]], one of the major participants in [[Space science|space research]]. Although ESA had relied on co-operation with NASA in previous decades, changed circumstances, such as tough legal restrictions on information sharing under [[International Traffic in Arms Regulations|ITAR]],<ref>[https://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin118/chapter6_bul118.pdf ESA’s Cooperation with International Partners – Export-Control Issues]</ref> led to decisions to rely more on itself and on cooperation with [[Roscosmos]].<ref name="international-coop">{{cite web |title=Launchers Home: International cooperation |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/International_cooperation |publisher=ESA |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225125227/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/International_cooperation |url-status=live }}</ref>

The agency continued its contribution to the [[International Space Station|International Space Station (ISS)]] programme with [[European Astronaut Corps|European astronauts]] joining assembly flights as well as [[ISS expeditions|long-term missions]] to the station. In 2008, ESA added its laboratory module ''[[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus]]'' to ISS and started launching the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] cargo spacecraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA CELEBRATION OF 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLUMBUS AND ATV, Feb 7, 2018, 7:30 am-12:00 pm ET (webcast) |url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/events/esa-celebration-of-10th-anniversary-of-columbus-and-atv-feb-7-2018-730-am-1200-pm-et-webcast/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> During the 2000s, ESA was considering cooperation with Russia on the proposed [[Kliper]] and [[CSTS]] crewed vehicles, but neither of these was developed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKie |first=Robin |date=2005-05-22 |title=Europe to hitch space ride on Russia's rocket |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/22/russia.science |access-date=2025-10-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppinger |first=Rob |title=PICTURE: First ESA/Russian Crew Space Transportation System concept emerges |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/picture-first-esa/russian-crew-space-transportation-system-concept-emerges/78583.article |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-07-22 |title=Manned spaceship design unveiled |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7519723.stm |access-date=2025-10-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia-ESA CSTS deal on the rocks? {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/russia-esa-csts-deal-rocks |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppinger |first=Rob |date=2009-02-16 |title=ESA: How CSTS died, how ARV will live |url=https://www.seradata.com/esa-how-csts-died-how-arv-will/ |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Seradata |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Notable deep space missions during the 2000s included the agency's first Moon, Mars, and Venus orbiters: [[SMART-1]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2017 |title=Here is the final resting place of SMART-1 on the Moon |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/here-is-the-final-resting-place-of-smart-1-on-the-moon |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=SYFY Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Mars Express]]'', and ''[[Venus Express]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Elizabeth |last=Howell |date=16 January 2015 |title=Venus Express: ESA's 1st Mission to Venus |url=https://www.space.com/18363-venus-express.html |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=mars.nasa.gov |title=Mars Express (ESA) {{!}} Missions |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/express |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |date=5 December 2017 |language=en}}</ref> ESA's ''[[Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens]]'' probe, launched together with the NASA's ''[[Cassini–Huygens|Cassini]]'' mission in 1997, reached its destination in 2005 when it successfully landed on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], marking the farthest landing from Earth a spacecraft has ever made.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 January 2005 |title=Huygens sends first Titan images |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4175099.stm |access-date=8 September 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The comet orbiter ''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]'' launched in 2004 and performed multiple deep space flybys and observations during the decade, but wouldn't reach its destination until 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosetta overview |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta_overview |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

ESA has launched multiple major astronomy missions in the 2000s: the [[gamma ray]] observatory ''[[INTEGRAL]]'',<ref>[https://phys.org/news/2025-02-mission-esa-gamma-ray-telescope.html Mission accomplished for Integral, ESA's gamma-ray telescope]</ref> the [[infrared]] observatory [[Herschel Space Observatory|''Herschel'']], the [[cosmic microwave background]] mapper [[Planck (spacecraft)|''Planck'']],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Herschel and Planck |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Herschel_and_Planck |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> and [[Corot (space mission)|''Corot'']], a milestone in the search for [[exoplanet]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sanderson |first=Katharine |date=22 December 2006 |title=Planet hunt ready for lift-off |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/news061218-16 |journal=Nature |language=en |doi=10.1038/news061218-16 |issn=1476-4687|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Notable [[Earth observation satellite|Earth observation]] missions launched during the decade included ''[[Envisat]],'' ''[[Double Star (satellite)|Double Star]],'' ''[[GOCE]],'' [[Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity|''SMOS'']], and the experimental [[PROBA satellite series|PROBA series]]. ESA also contributed to the meteorological constellations [[Meteosat#Second generation|Meteosat]] and [[MetOp]] and tested technologies for the future [[Galileo (satellite navigation)|Galileo]] satellite navigation system with two [[GIOVE]] satellites.

=== ESA in the 2010s ===
In 2010, ESA added the [[Cupola (ISS module)|Cupola]] observation module to [[International Space Station|ISS]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Spaceman: Astronauts to install a window on the world |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jonathanamos/2010/02/the-cupola-the-window-on-the-w.shtml |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-08 |title=Room With A View: Remembering STS-130 and the Cupola, OTD in 2010 - AmericaSpace |url=https://www.americaspace.com/2021/02/08/room-with-a-view-remembering-sts-130-and-the-cupola-otd-in-2010/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=www.americaspace.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[European Astronaut Corps|European astronauts]] continued joining [[ISS expeditions|long-term missions]] to the station. The [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] cargo spacecraft continued resupplying ISS until its last flight in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=2015-02-14 |title=Europe's final ATV cargo vehicle completes mission |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/02/europes-final-atv-cargo-iss-farewell/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe's last ATV set to depart from space station – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/02/13/europes-last-atv-set-to-depart-from-space-station/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, ESA committed to providing the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]]-derived [[European Service Module]] for [[NASA]]'s crewed lunar spacecraft [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=2012-11-21 |title=UK steps up, as ESA commit to ATV Service Module on NASA's Orion |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/11/uk-steps-up-esa-commit-atv-service-module-orion/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2014, ESA's ''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]'' probe arrived at its destinatination, the Jupiter-family comet [[67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko]]. It became the first spacecraft ever to orbit a comet<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-08-06 |title=Europe's Rosetta probe goes into orbit around comet 67P |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28659783 |access-date=2025-11-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> and its lander ''[[Philae (spacecraft)|Philae]]'' performed the first ever landing on a comet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosetta's 'Philae' Makes Historic First Landing on a Comet |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosettas-philae-makes-historic-first-landing-on-a-comet/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250928202317/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rosettas-philae-makes-historic-first-landing-on-a-comet/ |archive-date=2025-09-28 |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Ten years ago: Philae becomes first probe to land on a comet |url=https://www.dlr.de/en/blog/archive/2024/ten-years-ago-philae-becomes-first-probe-to-land-on-a-comet |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=www.dlr.de |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, ESA launched its second Mars orbiter mission, the [[Trace Gas Orbiter|ExoMars ''Trace Gas Orbiter'' (TGO)]]. When the spacecraft arrived at Mars later the same year, it released the ''[[Schiaparelli EDM|Schiaparelli]]'' lander, which failed on landing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-10-21 |title=Dark Spot in Mars Photo Is Probably Wreckage of European Spacecraft (Published 2016) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/science/mars-crash-landing-site-explosion.html |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=en}}</ref> TGO, however, entered the Martian orbit and after 11 months of [[aerobraking]] began its scientific observations, focused mostly on the [[atmosphere of Mars]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wallpublished |first=Mike |date=2018-02-23 |title=Methane-Sniffing Orbiter Finishes 'Aerobraking' Dives Through Mars' Atmosphere |url=https://www.space.com/39796-methane-sniffing-mars-orbiter-aerobraking-dives.html |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, ESA and [[JAXA]] launched the joint mission ''[[BepiColombo]]'', which is expected to arrive at Mercury in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The BepiColombo mission to Mercury |url=https://link.springer.com/collections/dciadahdfc |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=SpringerLink |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Caliman |first=Lucille |date=2025-03-05 |title=BepiColombo: revelations from the Mercury mission |url=https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/space/bepicolombo-revelations-from-the-mercury-mission/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Polytechnique Insights |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Notable astronomy missions launched in 2010s were the [[astrometry]] telescope ''[[Gaia (spacecraft)|Gaia]]'', which produced the largest and most precise 3D catalogue of astronomical objects ever made,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-01 |title=Gaia’s Map of 1.3 Billion Stars Makes for a Milky Way in a Bottle (Published 2018) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/01/science/gaia-map-milky-way.html |access-date=2025-11-16 |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Exoplanet|exoplanets]]-characterizing telescope ''[[CHEOPS]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA satellite set for launch to measure sizes of exoplanets – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/15/esa-satellite-set-for-launch-to-measure-sizes-of-exoplanets/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> ESA also launched [[LISA Pathfinder|''LISA Pathfinder'']], a technology demonstrator for the future [[gravitational wave]] observatory [[Laser Interferometer Space Antenna|LISA]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=LISA Pathfinder en route to gravitational wave demonstration |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/LISA_Pathfinder_en_route_to_gravitational_wave_demonstration |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, ESA launched the [[cryosphere]]-monitoring satellite ''[[CryoSat-2]]'', a replacement for ''[[CryoSat-1]]'' which had been destroyed in 2005 due to a failure of its Russian launch vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cryosat-2 {{!}} CNES |url=https://cnes.fr/en/projects/cryosat |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250720022423/https://cnes.fr/en/projects/cryosat |archive-date=2025-07-20 |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=cnes.fr |language=en}}</ref> Another major [[Earth observation satellite]] mission of the decade was the [[Earth's magnetic field|magnetic field]]-observing [[Swarm (spacecraft)|Swarm]], launched in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Swarm mission: An overview |url=https://geomag.bgs.ac.uk/education/swarm_overview.html |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=geomag.bgs.ac.uk}}</ref>

The 2010s saw the first launches of two major European [[Satellite constellation|satellite constellations]], to which ESA contributed alongside other European institutions, the [[satellite navigation]] system [[Galileo (satellite navigation)|Galileo]] and the [[Earth observation satellite|Earth observation]] programme [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus]] with its [[Sentinel satellite|Sentinel]] satellites. The first operational pair of [[List of Galileo satellites|Galileo satellites]] was launched in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolution {{!}} EU Agency for the Space Programme |url=https://www.euspa.europa.eu/eu-space-programme/galileo/evolution |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.euspa.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> The radar satellite [[Sentinel-1A]], first dedicated mission of the [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus programme]], was launched in 2014,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Peter |first=H. |last2=Jäggi |first2=A. |last3=Fernández |first3=J. |last4=Escobar |first4=D. |last5=Ayuga |first5=F. |last6=Arnold |first6=D. |last7=Wermuth |first7=M. |last8=Hackel |first8=S. |last9=Otten |first9=M. |last10=Simons |first10=W. |last11=Visser |first11=P. |last12=Hugentobler |first12=U. |last13=Féménias |first13=P. |date=2017-09-01 |title=Sentinel-1A – First precise orbit determination results |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117717303794 |journal=Advances in Space Research |volume=60 |issue=5 |pages=879–892 |doi=10.1016/j.asr.2017.05.034 |issn=0273-1177}}</ref> followed by the optical imaging satellite [[Sentinel-2A]] in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Second Copernicus environmental satellite safely in orbit |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Second_Copernicus_environmental_satellite_safely_in_orbit |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> the [[oceanography]] satellite [[Sentinel-3A]] in 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=2016-02-16 |title=Russian Rokot launches Sentinel-3A |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/02/russian-rokot-sentinel-3a-launch/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and the air pollution-monitoring [[Sentinel-5 Precursor|Sentinel-5p]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air-quality monitoring satellite in orbit - News - Sentinel-5P- ESA Missions - Earth Online - ESA |url=https://earth.esa.int/web/guest/missions/esa-eo-missions/sentinel-5p/news/-/article/air-quality-monitoring-satellite-in-orbit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013224940/https://earth.esa.int/web/guest/missions/esa-eo-missions/sentinel-5p/news/-/article/air-quality-monitoring-satellite-in-orbit |archive-date=2017-10-13 |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=earth.esa.int |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ESA in the 2020s ===
In 2021 the ESA ministerial council agreed to the "[[Matosinhos]] manifesto" setting priority areas and high visibility projects for ESA's future.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 November 2021 |title=Space can help solve Earth's most pressing challenges |url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/11/26/space-can-help-to-solve-the-biggest-challenges-facing-our-planet-here-s-how |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615091745/https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/11/26/space-can-help-to-solve-the-biggest-challenges-facing-our-planet-here-s-how |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 November 2021 |title=Council Resolution on "Accelerating the Use of Space in Europe" |url=https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_C_2021_176_EN.pdf |website=ESA |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409155833/https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_C_2021_176_EN.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 2025, ESA released its "Strategy 2040", a long-term roadmap adopted by the ESA council to define the agency's priorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Strategy 2040 |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Strategy_2040 |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=21 March 2025 |title=ESA releases strategy document that emphasizes autonomy |url=https://spacenews.com/esa-releases-strategy-document-that-emphasizes-autonomy/?utm_source=B+AWARE+#376+(Mass+Mailing+created+on+2025-03-24)&utm_medium=Email |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> After the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invason of Ukraine]] in 2022, the cooperation between ESA and [[Roscosmos]] was mostly severed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2022-03-08 |title=The ending of an era in international space cooperation |url=https://spacenews.com/the-ending-of-an-era-in-international-space-cooperation/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Andrew Jones |date=7 March 2023 |title=Russia's war on Ukraine has caused lasting damage to international spaceflight cooperation |url=https://www.space.com/russia-war-ukraine-damage-international-spaceflight-cooperation |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Redirecting ESA programmes in response to geopolitical crisis |url=https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Redirecting_ESA_programmes_in_response_to_geopolitical_crisis |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=31 March 2025 |title=Airbus Awarded £150M Contract for ExoMars Lander Platform |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/airbus-awarded-150m-contract-for-exomars-lander-platform/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=26 April 2024 |title=New Rocket to Take Over Soyuz Site in French Guiana |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/new-rocket-to-take-over-soyuz-site-in-french-guiana/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref> This led to a delay in the [[ExoMars]] programme<ref>{{Cite web |title=ExoMars is Back on Track for Mars in 2028 |url=https://www.universetoday.com/articles/exomars-is-back-on-track-for-mars-in-2028 |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=Universe Today |language=en}}</ref> and ending of [[Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre|Soyuz launches from the Guiana Space Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Tariq Malik |date=2022-02-26 |title=Russia halts Soyuz rocket launches from French Guiana over European sanctions on Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.space.com/russia-halts-soyuz-launches-french-guiana |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref>

In early 2020s, ESA has added two major components to the ISS. The ''[[Columbus External Payload Facility#Bartolomeo|Bartolomeo]]'' platform was connected to the ''[[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus]]'' module in 2020 to increase its capacity for external payloads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 October 2021 |title=Successful launch for Airbus' Bartolomeo {{!}} Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-03-successful-launch-for-airbus-bartolomeo |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.airbus.com |language=en}}</ref> The [[European Robotic Arm]] was launched in 2021 together with the ''[[Nauka (ISS module)|Nauka]]'' module.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanou |first=Hanneke |date=5 July 2021 |title=Dutch robotic arm finally reaches into space |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2021/07/dutch-robotic-arm-finally-reaches-into-space/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=DutchNews.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref> ESA continued contributing [[European Astronaut Corps|European astronauts]] to regular [[ISS expeditions]], and also started paying private companies for short-term astronaut flights to the station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA's Marcus Wandtembarks on historic Muninn Mission aboard ISS |url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ESAs_Marcus_Wandtembarks_on_historic_Muninn_Mission_aboard_ISS_999.html |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Space Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Hungary and Poland to join India on Ax-4 |url=https://spacenews.com/hungary-and-poland-to-join-india-on-ax-4/}}</ref> ESA also started supporting European companies in developing uncrewed [[space capsule]]s for resupplying the ISS and [[Commercial Space Stations|future space stations]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=11 February 2025 |title=ESA Moves Forward with Phase 2 of its LEO Cargo Return Initiative |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-moves-forward-with-phase-2-of-its-leo-cargo-return-initiative/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as the Indian [[ISRO]] in developing their crewed [[Gaganyaan]] spacecraft.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024 |title=ISRO ties up with European Space Agency for Gaganyaan missions |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-ties-up-with-european-space-agency-for-gaganyaan-missions/article68954151.ece |access-date=13 September 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ISRO – ESA Signs Technical Implementing Plan for Network Operation Support for Gaganyaan Missions |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO_ESA_GaganyaanMissions.html |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref> The ESA-built [[European Service Module]] of the [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion spacecraft]] flew on its [[Artemis I|first uncrewed test flight]] around the Moon in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hambleton |first=Kathryn |date=20 February 2018 |title=Artemis I Overview |url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/artemis-i-overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817053946/https://www.nasa.gov/content/artemis-i-overview |archive-date=17 August 2022 |access-date=13 September 2025 |work=NASA |language=en}}</ref>

The ''[[BepiColombo]]'' mission, launched in 2018, has completed all its nine [[gravity assist]] maneuvers at Earth, Venus, and Mercury, in preparation for the planned 2026 insertion into Mercury orbit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top three images from BepiColombo's sixth Mercury flyby |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo/Top_three_images_from_BepiColombo_s_sixth_Mercury_flyby |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> The [[heliophysics]] mission ''[[Solar Orbiter]]'', launched in 2020, continues to perform periodic Venus flybys which gradually increase its [[orbital inclination]], allowing it to observe the Sun from outside the [[Ecliptic plane|Solar system plane]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solar Orbiter gets world-first views of the Sun's poles |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Solar_Orbiter_gets_world-first_views_of_the_Sun_s_poles |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> The ''[[Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer|Juice]]'' mission, launched in 2023, has so far completed two gravity assist maneuvers at Earth and Venus on its way to enter an orbit around Jupiter in 2031.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarri |first=Giuseppe |date=1 September 2025 |title=JUICE FlyBy of Venus: Spacecraft Survives Hellish Heat on the Way to Icy Moons |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/09/01/esa-juice-flyby-of-venus-on-the-way-to-icy-moons/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Orbital Today |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Hera (space mission)|''Hera'']] mission, launched in 2024 as the first space mission of the optional [[Space Safety Programme]], flew by Mars in 2025 on its way to perform a post-impact survey of the asteroid [[Dimorphos]] which had been impacted by NASA's [[Double Asteroid Redirection Test]] mission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hera asteroid mission's side-trip to Mars |url=https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Hera_asteroid_mission_s_side-trip_to_Mars |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> Two European orbiters, ''[[Mars Express]]'' and [[Trace Gas Orbiter|TGO]], continued their operations around Mars, providing scientific insights into the planet's surface and atmosphere. In 2025, ''Mars Express'' received a software update, which could allow it to stay operational until 2030s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars Express updates software, potentially extending spacecraft lifetime |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Mars_Express_updates_software_potentially_extending_spacecraft_lifetime |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

In the 2020s, ESA started developing a number of space infrastructure projects for long term, sustainable robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars. The [[Argonaut (lunar lander)|Argonaut]] landers will deliver heavy payloads to the lunar surface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=31 January 2025 |title=ESA Awards €862M Argonaut Moon Lander Contract to Thales Alenia Space |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-thales-alenia-space-e862m-argonaut-moon-lander-contract/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Moonlight Initiative]] will place a constellation of communication and navigation satellites around the Moon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=13 March 2025 |title=Thales Alenia Space to Build ESA Moonlight Satellites for Telespazio |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/thales-alenia-space-to-build-esa-moonlight-satellites-for-telespazio/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[LightShip (spacecraft)|LightShip]] interplanetary [[space tug]]s equipped with [[solar electric propulsion]] will deliver other spacecraft to Mars and then serve as communication, navigation, and weather satellites within the MARCONI constellation in high Mars orbit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Emily |date=18 August 2025 |title=ESA Increases Mars Ambitions with Mars Transportation Infrastructure |url=https://www.spacescout.info/2025/08/esa-increases-mars-ambitions-with-mars-transportation-infrastructure/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=Space Scout |language=en-US}}</ref>

The long-awaited [[NASA]]-ESA-[[Canadian Space Agency|CSA]] space telescope [[James Webb Space Telescope|JWST]] finally launched in 2021<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 December 2021 |title=Here Are Highlights from the James Webb Space Telescope Launch [Video] (Published 2021) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/12/25/science/webb-telescope-launch-nasa |access-date=13 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and started operating in its [[halo orbit]] around the Sun–Earth [[Lagrange point|L<sub>2</sub> point]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=At Last! NASA's Webb Space Telescope Is Now Fully Ready for Science |url=https://scitechdaily.com/at-last-nasas-webb-space-telescope-is-now-fully-ready-for-science/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=SciTechDaily |language=en-US}}</ref> The first half of 2023 saw the launch the [[Euclid (spacecraft)|''Euclid'']] space telescope designed to better understand [[dark energy]] and [[dark matter]] by accurately measuring the [[accelerating expansion of the universe]].<ref name="NYT-20230701">{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Katrina |date=1 July 2023 |title=The Dark Universe Is Waiting. What Will the Euclid Telescope Reveal? – The European Space Agency mission, which launched on Saturday, will capture billions of galaxies to create a cosmic map spanning space and time. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/science/spacex-euclid-launch.html |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230701145541/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/science/spacex-euclid-launch.html |archivedate=1 July 2023 |accessdate=2 July 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The experimental ''[[PROBA-3]]'' mission, launched in 2024, successfully demonstrated high-precision [[Satellite formation flying|formation flying]] for [[coronagraph]]y observation of the Sun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Proba-3_s_first_artificial_solar_eclipse |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

The successor to the [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] launch vehicle, [[Vega C]], launched successfully for the first time on 13 July 2022, delivering the ''[[LARES 2]]'' satellite and six [[CubeSat]]s to Earth orbit.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pirrotta |first1=Simone |last2=Bianco |first2=Giuseppe |last3=Ciufolini |first3=Ignazio |last4=Bertacin |first4=Roberto |last5=Bursi |first5=Alessandro |last6=Dell’Agnello |first6=Simone |last7=Paolozzi |first7=Antonio |last8=Pellegrini |first8=Rocco C. |last9=Pepato |first9=Adriano |last10=Spinelli |first10=Matteo |date=2025-10-01 |title=LARES 2 mission: The consolidation of Italian heritage in laser ranged satellites |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576525003546 |journal=Acta Astronautica |volume=235 |pages=787–797 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.06.006 |bibcode=2025AcAau.235..787P |issn=0094-5765|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vega-C successfully completes inaugural flight |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_successfully_completes_inaugural_flight |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> The successor to the [[Ariane 5]] launch vehicle, [[Ariane 6]], had its maiden flight on 9 July 2024, followed by the first commercial launch on 6 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 March 2025 |title=Ariane-6 launches first commercial flight with military satellite |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/03/06/ariane-6-launches-first-commercial-flight-with-military-satellite_6738891_19.html |access-date=23 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> In March 2025, ESA officially launched its [[European Launcher Challenge|European Launcher Challenge (ELC)]] to support European commercial launch providers and in July 2025, the agency has preselected five companies for further competition. Initially introduced in November 2023, the program aims to foster new European sovereign launch capabilities, beginning with [[Small-lift launch vehicle|small launch vehicles]] and ultimately paving the way for an Ariane 6 successor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=24 March 2025 |title=ESA issues call for proposals for European Launcher Challenge |url=https://spacenews.com/esa-issues-call-for-proposals-for-european-launcher-challenge/?utm_source=B+AWARE+#377+(Mass+Mailing+created+on+2025-03-25)&utm_medium=Email |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=25 March 2025 |title=ESA Issues Call for European Launcher Challenge Proposals |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-issues-call-for-european-launcher-challenge-proposals/ |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=7 July 2025 |title=ESA Shortlists Five Companies for European Launcher Challenge |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-shortlists-five-companies-for-european-launcher-challenge/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
[[File:Views in the Main Control Room (12052189474).jpg|thumb|right|[[European Space Operations Centre]] in [[Darmstadt]], Germany.]]
[[File:ESA-ESTEC5.jpg|thumb|right|[[European Space Research and Technology Centre|ESTEC]] buildings in [[Noordwijk]], Netherlands.]]The agency's facilities date back to ESRO and are deliberately distributed among various countries and areas. The most important are the following centres:

*ESA headquarters in Paris, France;
*ESA science missions are based at [[European Space Research and Technology Centre|ESTEC]] in [[Noordwijk]], Netherlands;
*Earth Observation missions at the [[ESA Centre for Earth Observation]] in [[Frascati]], Italy;
*ESA Mission Control ([[European Space Operations Centre|ESOC]]) is in [[Darmstadt]], Germany;
*The [[European Astronaut Centre]] (EAC) that trains astronauts for future missions is situated in [[Cologne]], Germany;
*The [[European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications]] (ECSAT), a research institute created in 2009, is located in [[Harwell Science and Innovation Campus|Harwell]], England, United Kingdom;
*The [[European Space Astronomy Centre]] (ESAC) is located in [[Villanueva de la Cañada]], [[Comunidad de Madrid|Madrid]], Spain.
*The [[European Space Security and Education Centre]] (ESEC), located in Redu, Belgium; 
*The [[ESTRACK]] tracking and deep space communication network.
*Many other facilities are operated by national space agencies in close collaboration with ESA.
**[[Esrange]] near [[Kiruna]] in Sweden;
**[[Guiana Space Centre]] in Kourou, France;
**[[Toulouse Space Centre]], France;
**[[Institute of Space Propulsion]] in [[Lampoldshausen]], Germany;
**[[Columbus Control Centre]] in [[Oberpfaffenhofen]], Germany.

==Activities and programmes==
{{Main|List of European Space Agency programs and missions}}

The ESA describes its work in two overlapping ways:
* For the general public, the various fields of work are described as "Activities".
* Budgets are organised as "Programmes".

These are either mandatory or optional.

===Activities===
According to the ESA website, the activities are:
{{cmn|colwidth=20em|
*Observing the Earth
*Human and Robotic Exploration
*Launchers
*Navigation
*Space Science
*Space Engineering & Technology
*Operations
*Telecommunications & Integrated Applications
*Preparing for the Future
*Space for Climate<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montanari |first=Elias |title=Satellite-based air traffic management (ATM) systems' impact on CO2 emission – IAF Digital Library |url=https://dl.iafastro.directory/event/IAC-2022/paper/67433/ |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=dl.iafastro.directory}}</ref>
}}

===Programmes===
{{cmn|colwidth=20em|
*[[Horizon 2000]]
*[[Cosmic Vision]]
*[[Aurora programme|Aurora]]
*[https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Terrae_Novae_Europe_s_exploration_vision Terrae Novae Programme]
*[[Copernicus Programme]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus|title=Copernicus|website=www.esa.int|access-date=14 May 2022|archive-date=14 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514235714/https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Galileo (satellite navigation)|Galileo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Navigation/Galileo/What_is_Galileo|title=What is Galileo?|website=www.esa.int|access-date=14 May 2022|archive-date=14 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514235710/https://www.esa.int/Applications/Navigation/Galileo/What_is_Galileo|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[FutureEO]]
}}

====Mandatory====
Every member country (known as 'Member States') must contribute to these programmes:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.czechspaceportal.cz/en/section-2/space-policy-eu---esa/mandatory-activities/ |title=Mandatory activities – ITS, Space Activities and R&D Department |website=www.czechspaceportal.cz |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=16 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216115313/http://www.czechspaceportal.cz/en/section-2/space-policy-eu---esa/mandatory-activities/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[European Space Agency Science Programme]] is a long-term programme of space science missions.

*Technology Development Element Programme<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/About_the_Technology_Development_Element_programme_TDE |title=About the Technology Development Element programme (TDE) |last=esa |website=European Space Agency |language=en-GB |access-date=4 September 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904133200/https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/About_the_Technology_Development_Element_programme_TDE |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Science Core Technology Programme
*General Study Programme
*European Component Initiative

====Optional====
Depending on their individual choices the countries can contribute to the following programmes, becoming 'Participating States', listed according to:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Ministerial_Council_2012/FACT_SHEET |title=Fact Sheet  |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=16 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216112224/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Ministerial_Council_2012/FACT_SHEET |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{cmn|colwidth=20em|
*Launchers
*Earth Observation
*Human Spaceflight and Exploration
*Telecommunications
*Navigation
*[[Space Safety Programme]], formerly "Space Situational Awareness"
*Technology
}}

==Member states, funding, and budget==
{{Multiple image
| width             = 300
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = ESA Members Map.svg
| caption1          = {{legend|#0e2d6d|ESA member states}}{{legend|#3e5d9d|ESA associate states}}{{legend|#5e7dbd|ESA cooperating state}}{{legend|#7e9ddd|ESA ECS states}}{{legend|#aecdff|ESA Cooperation Agreement states}}
| caption2          = {{legend|#439CC6|ESA member states}}{{legend|#0000ff|ESA associate members}}{{legend|#47C2B4|European cooperating states (ECS)}}{{legend|#23A552|Signatories of the Cooperation Agreement}}
}}

===Membership and contribution to the ESA===
Member states participate to varying degrees with both mandatory space programs and those that are optional. {{as of|2008}}, the mandatory programmes made up 25% of total expenditures while optional space programmes were the other 75%.<ref name="czechspace.cz">{{cite web |url=http://www.czechspace.cz/cs/system/files/AO6052-ws00pe.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511110444/http://www.czechspace.cz/cs/system/files/AO6052-ws00pe.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2013 |title=ESA programmes with Czech participation |publisher=[[Czech Space Office]] |year=2009}}</ref> The ESA has traditionally implemented a policy of "georeturn", where funds that ESA member states provide to the ESA "are returned in the form of contracts to companies in those countries."<ref name="sn20240619">{{cite news |last=Foust|first=Jeff |title=ESA takes first step to modify georeturn policies |url=https://spacenews.com/esa-takes-first-step-to-modify-georeturn-policies/ |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=19 June 2024 |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>

By 2015, the ESA was an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states.<ref name="ESA" /> The 2008 ESA budget amounted to €3.0&nbsp;billion whilst the 2009 budget amounted to €3.6&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_2009_Budgetsweb.pdf |title=ESA budget for 2009 |publisher=ESA |date=January 2009 |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130213055/http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/ESA_2009_Budgetsweb.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The total budget amounted to about €3.7&nbsp;billion in 2010, €3.99&nbsp;billion in 2011, €4.02&nbsp;billion in 2012, €4.28&nbsp;billion in 2013, €4.10&nbsp;billion in 2014, €4.43&nbsp;billion in 2015, €5.25&nbsp;billion in 2016, €5.75&nbsp;billion in 2017, €5.60&nbsp;billion in 2018, €5.72&nbsp;billion in 2019, €6.68&nbsp;billion in 2020, €6.49&nbsp;billion in 2021, €7.15&nbsp;billion in 2022, €7.46&nbsp;billion in 2023 and €7.79&nbsp;billion in 2024.<ref name="Budgets">* {{cite web |date=24 January 2013 |title=ESA Budget for 2013 |url=http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Latest_web_news/Budget_as_presented_during_DG_press_conference_24_January_2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021202123/http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Latest_web_news/Budget_as_presented_during_DG_press_conference_24_January_2013 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=21 May 2013 |work=esa.int}}
* {{cite web |title=ESA budget for 2011 |url=http://download.esa.int/docs/DG/ESA_2011_Budget_040111_rev2.ppt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131183314/http://download.esa.int/docs/DG/ESA_2011_Budget_040111_rev2.ppt |archive-date=31 January 2020 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=ESA |format=PPT}}
* {{cite web |title=ESA budget for 2013 |url=http://spaceinimages.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2013/01/esa_budget_2013/12496038-4-eng-GB/ESA_budget_2013.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103182759/http://spaceinimages.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2013/01/esa_budget_2013/12496038-4-eng-GB/ESA_budget_2013.jpg |archive-date=3 November 2013 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=ESA |format=JPG}}
* {{cite web |date=29 January 2015 |title=ESA Budget for 2014 |url=http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2014/01/ESA_budget_by_domain_for_2014_M_Million_Euro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111022527/http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2014/01/ESA_budget_by_domain_for_2014_M_Million_Euro |archive-date=11 November 2014 |access-date=29 January 2015 |work=esa.int}}
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2015/01/ESA_Budget_2015]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2016/01/ESA_budget_2016]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/01/ESA_budget_2017]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/01/ESA_budget_2018]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2019/01/ESA_Budget_2019]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/01/ESA_budget_2020]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/01/ESA_budget_2021]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2022/01/ESA_budget_2022]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/01/ESA_budget_2023]
* [https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/ESA_budget_2024]</ref>

English and French are the two official languages of the ESA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Frequently_asked_questions2 |access-date=30 August 2024 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, official documents are also provided in German and documents regarding the [[Spacelab]] have been also provided in Italian. If found appropriate, the agency may conduct its correspondence in any language of a member state.<ref>{{cite report|title=ESA Convention and Council Rules of Procedure|url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SP-1337_EN.pdf |date=November 2019|publisher=ESA |page=127|access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref>

The following table lists all the member states and adjunct members, their ESA convention ratification dates, and their contributions as of 2024:<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Funding |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Funding |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115090919/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Funding |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Member state or partner
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Ratification of ESA convention<br>or association agreement<ref>{{cite web |title=ESA Convention |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Law_at_ESA/ESA_Convention |website=esa.int |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | National programme
! colspan="3" scope="col" | Contributions
|-
! scope="col" | M€
! scope="col" | % of total
! scope="col" | Per capita (€)<ref>For European states, population is taken from the 2022 column of [https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/bookmark/9cc6dc79-3700-4e53-8259-4e6c12fc98cc?lang=en Eurostat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016205527/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/bookmark/9cc6dc79-3700-4e53-8259-4e6c12fc98cc?lang=en |date=16 October 2022 }} table.

For Canada, see the 2022 column of [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901 Statistics Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211032546/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901 |date=11 February 2022 }} table.</ref>{{full citation needed|date=August 2022}}
|-
! colspan="6" |Full member states
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Austria}}<ref group="note" name="Ireland" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1986|12|30}}
|[[Austrian Space Agency|ALR]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|62.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1.2}}%
|6.85
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Belgium}}{{#tag:ref|Founding members and initial signatories drafted the ESA charter which entered into force on 30 October 1980. These nations were also members of either [[European Launcher Development Organisation|ELDO]] or [[European Space Research Organisation|ESRO]].<ref name="ESA Convention">{{cite book |url=http://www.spacebooks-online.com/product_info.php?products_id=17557 |title=ESA Convention |date= 2010 |edition=7th |publisher=European Space Agency Communications, [[ESTEC]] |isbn=978-92-9221-410-4 |issn=0379-4067 |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906133404/http://www.spacebooks-online.com/product_info.php?products_id=17557 |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>|name=founding|group=note}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1978|10|3}}
|[[Belgian Federal Science Policy Office|BELSPO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|292.6}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|5.6}}%
|24.91
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Czechia}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2008|8|12}}
|[[Ministry of Transport (Czech Republic)|Ministry of Transport]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|48.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.9}}%
|4.47
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Denmark}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1977|9|15}}
|[[Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Denmark)|UFM]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|35.1}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.7}}%
|5.92
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Estonia}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|9|1}}
|[[Estonian Space Office|ESO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|7.0}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.1}}%
|5.12
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Finland}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1995|1|1}}
|[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment|TEM]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|33.5}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.6}}%
|6.02
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|France}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1980|10|30}}
|[[CNES]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1048.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|20.1}}%
|15.38
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Germany}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
||{{dts|format=dmy|1977|7|26}}
||[[German Aerospace Centre|DLR]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1171.6}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|22.4}}%
|14.10
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Greece}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2005|3|9}}
|[[Hellenic Space Center|HSC]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|16.1}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.3}}%
|1.55
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Hungary}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|11|4}}
|[[Hungarian Space Office|HSO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|23.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.4}}%
|2.42
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Ireland}}{{refn|These nations are considered initial signatories, but since they were members of neither [[European Space Research Organisation|ESRO]] nor [[European Launcher Development Organisation|ELDO]] (the precursor organisations to ESA) the Convention could only enter into force when the last of the other 10 founders ratified it.|name=Ireland|group=note}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|1980|12|10}}
|[[Enterprise Ireland]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|22.8}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.4}}%
|4.33
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Italy}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1978|2|20}}
|[[Italian Space Agency|ASI]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|881.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|16.9}}%
|14.94
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Luxembourg}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2005|6|30}}
|[[Luxembourg Space Agency|LSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|41.6}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.8}}%
|62.95
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Netherlands}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1979|2|6}}
|[[Netherlands Space Office|NSO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|117.1}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|2.2}}%
|6.57
|-
|{{Flagicon|EFTA}}{{flagu|Norway}}<ref group="note" name="Ireland" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1986|12|30}}
|[[Norwegian Space Agency|NSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|71.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1.4}}%
|13.01
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Poland}}
||{{dts|format=dmy|2012|11|19}}
|[[Polish Space Agency|POLSA]] 
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|47.7}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.9}}%
|1.30
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Portugal}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2000|11|14}}
|[[Portugal Space|PT Space]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|19.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.4}}%
|1.85
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Romania}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2011|12|22}}
|[[Romanian Space Agency|ROSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|51.0}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1.0}}%
|2.68
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Slovenia}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2025|1|1}}
|[[Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies|SPACE-SI]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|3.9}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.1}}%
|1.84
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Spain}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1979|2|7}}
|[[Agencia Espacial Española|AEE]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|297.5}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|5.7}}%
|6.19
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Sweden}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1976|4|6}}
|[[Swedish National Space Agency|SNSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|80.0}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1.5}}%
|7.60
|-
|{{Flagicon|EFTA}}{{flagu|Switzerland}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1976|11|19}}
|[[Swiss Space Office|SSO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|188.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|3.6}}%
|21.35
|-
|{{flagu|United Kingdom}}<ref group="note" name="founding" />
|{{dts|format=dmy|1978|3|28}}
|[[UK Space Agency|UKSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|448.9}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|8.6}}%
|6.60
|-
! scope="row" |Others
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|203.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|3.9}}%
|{{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#e9e9e9; text-align:left;" |Non-full members
|-
|{{flagu|Canada}}{{refn|Canada is a Cooperating State of ESA.<ref name="Leclerc-1998"/><ref name="assoc">{{cite book |url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/hsr/HSR_25.pdf |title=Canada and The European Space Agency: Three Decades of Cooperation |first=Lydia |last=Dotto |date=2002 |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809053114/http://www.esa.int/esapub/hsr/HSR_25.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>|name=Canada|group=note}} ||{{dts|format=dmy|1979|1|1}}<ref name="Leclerc-1998">{{cite journal |url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet96/LECLERC.pdf |title=Canada and ESA: 20 Years of Cooperation |first1=G. |last1=Leclerc |first2=S. |last2=Lessard |journal=ESA Bulletin |issue=96 |date=November 1998 |isbn=92-9092-533-7 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809053040/http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet96/LECLERC.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref group="note" name="Associate states" />
||[[Canadian Space Agency|CSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|11.0}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.2}}%
|0.28
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Latvia}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2020|7|27}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2020">{{Cite web |date=29 July 2020 |title=Latvia becomes ESA Associate Member State |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Latvia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_State |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111221710/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Latvia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_State |url-status=live }}</ref>{{refn|Date of ratification of association agreement.|name=Associate states|group=note}}
|[[Latvian Space Office|LSO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.5}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.0}}%
|0.27
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Lithuania}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2021|5|21}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2">{{Cite web |title=Lithuania becomes ESA Associate Member state |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Lithuania_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222072237/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Lithuania_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state |url-status=live }}</ref><ref group="note" name="Associate states" />
|[[Lithuanian Space Association|LSA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.9}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.0}}%
|0.32
|-
|{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Slovakia}}
|{{dts|format=dmy|2022|10|13}}<ref name="www.esa.int">{{Cite web |title=Slovakia becomes ESA Associate Member state |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovakia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013201557/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Slovakia_becomes_ESA_Associate_Member_state |url-status=live }}</ref><ref group="note" name="Associate states" />
|[[Slovak Space Office|SSO]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|3.5}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|0.1}}%
|0.65
|- style="background-color:#e9e9e9; font-weight:bold;"
| colspan="3" |{{hs|za}}Members and associates total
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|5,024.9}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{#expr:100*5024.9/7785.1round1}}%
|
|-
|{{flagu|European Union}}{{hs|zb}}<ref group="note" name="union">Framework Agreement establishing the legal basis for cooperation between ESA and the European Union came into force in May 2004.</ref>
|{{dts|format=dmy|2004|5|28}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2004/578/oj |title=Framework Agreement between the European Community and the European Space Agency |publisher=Consilium.europa.eu |access-date=29 August 2011 }}</ref>
|[[European Union Agency for the Space Programme|EUSPA]]
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1822.6}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|23.4}}%
|4.06
|-
! scope="row" |[[EUMETSAT]]{{hs|zc}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|116.4}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|1.5}}%
|{{n/a}}
|-
! scope="row" |{{hs|zd}}Other income
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|821.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|10.5}}%
|{{n/a}}
|- style="background-color:#e9e9e9; font-weight:bold;"
| colspan="3" |{{hs|za}}Other institutional partners and income total
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|2,760.2}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{#expr:100*2760.2/7785.1round1}}%
|
|- style="background-color:#e9e9e9; font-weight:bold;"
| colspan="3" |{{hs|ze}}Grand total
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|7,785.1}}
| style="text-align:right;" |{{nts|100%}}
|
|}

{{reflist|group=note|refs=
}}

===Non-full member states===
Previously associated members were Austria, Norway, Finland and Slovenia, all of which later joined the ESA as full members. Since January 2025 there have been four associate members: Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Canada. The three European members have shown interest in full membership and may eventually apply within the next years.

====Latvia====
Latvia became the second current associated member on 30 June 2020, when the Association Agreement was signed by ESA Director Jan Wörner and the [[Ministry of Education and Science (Latvia)|Minister of Education and Science of Latvia]], [[Ilga Šuplinska]] in [[Riga]]. The [[Saeima]] ratified it on 27 July.<ref name="www.esa.int-2020" />

====Lithuania====
In May 2021, Lithuania became the third current associated member.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payer |first=Markus |date=3 May 2021 |title=Lithuania becomes ESA Associate Member |url=https://spacewatch.global/2021/05/lithuania-becomes-esa-associate-member/ |access-date=26 May 2021 |website=SpaceWatch.Global |language=en-US |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522142034/https://spacewatch.global/2021/05/lithuania-becomes-esa-associate-member/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As a consequence its citizens became eligible to apply to the [[2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group|2022 ESA Astronaut group]], applications for which were scheduled to close one week later. The deadline was therefore extended by three weeks to allow Lithuanians a fair chance to apply.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA extends deadline for astronaut applications as new Associate Member joins |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astronaut_Selection/ESA_extends_deadline_for_astronaut_applications_as_new_Associate_Member_joins |access-date=26 May 2021 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526084734/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astronaut_Selection/ESA_extends_deadline_for_astronaut_applications_as_new_Associate_Member_joins |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Slovakia====
Slovakia's Associate membership came into effect on 13 October 2022, for an initial duration of seven years. The Association Agreement supersedes the European Cooperating State (ECS) Agreement, which entered into force upon Slovakia's subscription to the Plan for European Cooperating States Charter on 4 February 2016, a scheme introduced at ESA in 2001. The ECS Agreement was subsequently extended until 3 August 2022.<ref name="www.esa.int" />

==== Cyprus ====
Cyprus has signed an Associate Agreement in October 2025, with expectations of becoming an associate member in the coming months.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |title=Cyprus joins European Space Agency as an Associate Member |url=https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Cyprus_joins_European_Space_Agency_as_an_Associate_Member |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

====Canada====
Since 1 January 1979, Canada has had the special status of a Cooperating State within the ESA. By virtue of this accord, the [[Canadian Space Agency]] takes part in the ESA's deliberative bodies and decision-making and also in the ESA's programmes and activities. Canadian firms can bid for and receive contracts to work on programmes. The accord has a provision ensuring a fair industrial return to Canada.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/ESA_and_Canada_renew_cooperation_agreement_building_on_long-term_partnership |title=ESA and Canada renew cooperation agreement, building on long-term partnership |date=21 June 2000 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=13 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113052026/http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/ESA_and_Canada_renew_cooperation_agreement_building_on_long-term_partnership |url-status=live }}</ref> The most recent Cooperation Agreement was signed on 15 December 2010 with a term extending to 2020.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=580319 |title=Minister Clement Welcomes Extension of Historic Partnership with European Space Agency <!-- |alturl=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/064.nsf/eng/06154.html --> |date=15 December 2010 |publisher=Industry Canada |access-date=13 November 2014 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113034706/http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=580319 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Canadian Space Agency |url=http://www.spaceref.ca/news/viewpr.html?pid=32298 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160515132748/http://www.spaceref.ca/news/viewpr.html?pid%3D32298 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 May 2016 |title=Europe and Canada: Partners in Space A Model of International Co-Operation |date=15 December 2010}}</ref> For 2014, Canada's annual assessed contribution to the ESA general budget was €6,059,449 ([[Canadian dollar|CAD$]]8,559,050).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www4.asc-csa.gc.ca/transparence-transparency/eng/grants/2013-2014/4/1960.aspx |publisher=Canadian Space Agency |date=2 January 2014 |title=Disclosure of grants and contributions awards Fiscal Year 2013–2014 4th quarter |access-date=13 November 2014 |archive-date=5 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805235641/http://www4.asc-csa.gc.ca/transparence-transparency/eng/grants/2013-2014/4/1960.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> This annual contribution increased in 2017 to €21,600,000 ([[Canadian dollar|CAD$]]30,000,000).<ref>{{cite web |author=The Honourable Navdeep Bains |date=7 March 2016 |title=2016–17 Report on Plans and Priorities |url=https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/publications/rpp-2016.asp#s1-expenditures |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117024233/http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/publications/rpp-2016.asp#s1-expenditures |archive-date=17 January 2017 |access-date=30 January 2017 |website=Canadian Space Agency website}}</ref> In 2025, the Government of Canada announced a plan to increase contributions to the ESA by €326,000,000 ([[Canadian dollar|CAD$]]528,500,000) over the following three to five year period.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ljunggren |first=David |date=November 18, 2025 |title=Canada announces massive jump in funding to European Space Agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/canada-announces-massive-jump-funding-european-space-agency-2025-11-18/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 18, 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2025-11-19 |title=Canada Commits $528.5 Million to European Space Agency Programmes |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/canada-commits-528-5-million-to-european-space-agency-programmes/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Budget appropriation and allocation===
[[File:Easbars.png|thumb|upright=2.2|European Space Agency 2016 budget by domain out of a total budget is 5250M€.]]

The ESA is funded from annual contributions by national governments of members as well as from an annual contribution by the European Union (EU).<ref name="de Selding-2015">{{cite news |last1=de Selding |first1=Peter B. |title=Tough Sledding for Proposed ESA Reorganization |url=http://spacenews.com/tough-sledding-for-proposed-esa-reorganization/ |access-date=28 July 2015 |work=Space News |date=29 July 2015 |quote=The four biggest ESA contributors, Germany and France followed by Italy and Britain – together account for 67 percent of the agency's funding – and more if the annual contribution from the European Union is taken into account. |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152328/https://spacenews.com/tough-sledding-for-proposed-esa-reorganization/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The budget of the ESA was €5.250&nbsp;billion in 2016.<ref name="esa2016budpie">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/01/ESA_budget_2016_by_domain |title=ESA 2016 Budget by domain |publisher=European Space Agency |date=14 January 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312173654/http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/01/ESA_budget_2016_by_domain |url-status=live }}</ref> Every 3–4 years, ESA member states agree on a budget plan for several years at an ESA member states conference. This plan can be amended in future years, however provides the major guideline for the ESA for several years. {{citation needed|date=July 2015}} The 2016 budget allocations for major areas of the ESA activity are shown in the chart on the right.<ref name="esa2016budpie" />

Countries typically have their own space programmes that differ in how they operate organisationally and financially with the ESA. For example, the French space agency CNES has a total budget of €2,015&nbsp;million, of which €755&nbsp;million is paid as direct financial contribution to the ESA.<ref name="leCNES">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-fr/3349-sa-mission.php |title=Le CNES en bref |publisher=CNES |website=Centre National D'etudes Spatiales |access-date=11 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806025700/http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-fr/3349-sa-mission.php |archive-date=6 August 2013 }}</ref> Several space-related projects are joint projects between national space agencies and the ESA (e.g. [[COROT]]). Also, the ESA is not the only European governmental space organisation (for example [[European Union Satellite Centre]] and the [[European Union Agency for the Space Programme|European Union Space Programme Agency]]).

===Enlargement===
{{See also|Enlargement of the European Space Agency}}
After the decision of the ESA Council of 21/22 March 2001, the procedure for accession of the European states was detailed as described the document titled "The Plan for European Co-operating States (PECS)".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/PECS/documents/PECSPresentation2006.pdf |title=The Plan for European Co-operating States (PECS): Towards an enlarged ESA Partnership |first=Bernard |last=Zufferey |date=22 November 2006 |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816020518/http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/PECS/documents/PECSPresentation2006.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Nations that want to become a full member of the ESA do so in 3 stages. First a Cooperation Agreement is signed between the country and ESA. In this stage, the country has very limited financial responsibilities. If a country wants to co-operate more fully with ESA, it signs a European Cooperating State (ECS) Agreement, albeit to be a candidate for said agreement, a country must be European. The ECS Agreement makes companies based in the country eligible for participation in ESA procurements. The country can also participate in all ESA programmes, except for the Basic Technology Research Programme. While the financial contribution of the country concerned increases, it is still much lower than that of a full member state. The agreement is normally followed by a Plan For European Cooperating State (or PECS Charter). This is a 5-year programme of basic [[research and development]] activities aimed at improving the nation's [[space industry]] capacity. At the end of the 5-year period, the country can either begin negotiations to become a full member state or an associated state or sign a new PECS Charter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pecs.esa.int/node/24 |title=PECS: General Overview |publisher=European Space Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523104757/http://pecs.esa.int/node/24 |archive-date=23 May 2009}}</ref> Many countries, most of which joined the EU in both 2004 and 2007, have started to co-operate with the ESA on various levels:

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Applicant state
! scope="col" | Cooperation agreement
! scope="col" | ECS agreement
! scope="col" | PECS charter
! scope="col" | Association agreement signature
! scope="col" | Associate membership
! class="unsortable" | National programme
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Latvia}}
|{{dts|23 July 2009}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.diena.lv/lat/politics/hot/parakstis-ligumu-par-sadarbibu-kosmosa-joma |title=Līgums ar Kosmosa aģentūru liks tiekties pēc augstākiem rezultātiem |access-date=24 July 2009 |work=[[Diena.lv]] |date=23 July 2009 |language=lv |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152349/https://www.diena.lv/404/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|19 March 2013}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia becomes seventh ESA European Cooperating State |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Latvia_becomes_seventh_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |work=esa.int |publisher=ESA |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-date=22 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322233954/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Latvia_becomes_seventh_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|30 January 2015}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/01/Signature_of_the_PECS_Charter_between_ESA_and_Latvia2 |title=Signature of the PECS Charter between ESA and Latvia |publisher=ESA |date=31 January 2015 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205140007/http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/01/Signature_of_the_PECS_Charter_between_ESA_and_Latvia2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|30 June 2020}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2020" />
|{{dts|27 July 2020}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2020" />
|[[Latvian Space Office|LSO]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Lithuania}}
|{{dts|7 October 2010}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=32461 |title=Lithuania signs agreement with European Space Agency |author=Danuta Pavilenene |date=7 October 2010 |work=The Baltic Course |access-date=7 October 2010 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707210032/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=32461 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|7 October 2014}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Lithuania_becomes_eighth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |title=Lithuania becomes eighth ESA European Cooperating State |author=ESA |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014211757/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Lithuania_becomes_eighth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|28 September 2015}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2" />
|{{dts|28 April 2021}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2" />
|{{dts|21 May 2021}}<ref name="www.esa.int-2" />
|[[Lithuanian Space Association|LSA]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Slovakia}}
|{{dts|28 April 2010}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Slovak_Republic_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |title=Slovak Republic signs Cooperation Agreement |date=4 May 2010 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=ESA |archive-date=11 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911215615/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Slovak_Republic_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|16 February 2015}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Slovakia_becomes_ninth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |title=Slovakia becomes ninth ESA European Cooperating State |author=esa |work=European Space Agency |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014857/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Slovakia_becomes_ninth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|4 February 2016}}<ref name="www.esa.int" />
|{{dts|14 June 2022}}<ref name="www.esa.int" />
|{{dts|13 October 2022}}<ref name="www.esa.int" />
|[[Slovak Space Office|SSO]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Cyprus}}
|{{dts|27 August 2009}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.famagusta-gazette.com/default.asp?sdetail=9458 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102133129/http://www.famagusta-gazette.com/default.asp?sdetail=9458 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2013 |title=Cyprus signs space agreement |access-date=30 August 2009 |date=28 August 2009 |work=Famagusta Gazette Online}}</ref>
|{{dts|6 July 2016}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Cyprus_becomes_11th_ESA_European_Cooperating_State|title=Cyprus becomes 11th ESA European Cooperating State|website=www.esa.int|access-date=14 May 2022|archive-date=14 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514235712/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Cyprus_becomes_11th_ESA_European_Cooperating_State|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{dts|24 April 2017}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ανακοινώσεις {{!}} Τμήμα Ηλεκτρονικών Επικοινωνιών |url=https://dec.dmrid.gov.cy/dmrid/dec/ws_dec.nsf/All/CCE6664FF1ECF718C22584F5004B46FF?OpenDocument |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=dec.dmrid.gov.cy |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108231455/https://dec.dmrid.gov.cy/dmrid/dec/ws_dec.nsf/All/CCE6664FF1ECF718C22584F5004B46FF?OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|23 October 2025}}<ref name=":21" />
|{{N/A}}
|through [[Ministry of Communications and Works (Cyprus)|MoCW]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Bulgaria}}
|{{dts|11 June 2014}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2014 |title=Орешарски вкара България в Европейската космическа агенция |url=https://www.mediapool.bg/oresharski-vkara-bulgaria-v-evropeiskata-kosmicheska-agentsiya-news221341.html |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Mediapool.bg |language=bg-BG |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108234321/https://www.mediapool.bg/oresharski-vkara-bulgaria-v-evropeiskata-kosmicheska-agentsiya-news221341.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Александров |first=Светослав |date=11 June 2014 |title=Процедурата за влизането на България в Европейската космическа агенция започна!!! |url=https://www.cosmos.1.bg/portal/2014-10-24-20-54-26/21-2012-01-05-19-55-17/543-2014-bulgaria-joins-esa |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=КОСМОС БГ – Космическият сайт на Светослав Александров |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108234322/https://www.cosmos.1.bg/portal/2014-10-24-20-54-26/21-2012-01-05-19-55-17/543-2014-bulgaria-joins-esa |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|8 April 2015}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Bulgaria_becomes_tenth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |title=Bulgaria becomes tenth ESA European Cooperating State |author=esa |work=European Space Agency |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925050004/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Bulgaria_becomes_tenth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{dts|4 February 2016}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mi.government.bg/bg/news/balgariya-podpisa-harta-s-evropeiskata-kosmicheska-agenciya-sporazumenieto-za-evropeiska-kooperirashta-da-2463.html |title=Bulgaria signs PECS Charter |author=MoE |work=Ministry of Economics of Bulgaria |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=5 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205092910/http://www.mi.government.bg/bg/news/balgariya-podpisa-harta-s-evropeiskata-kosmicheska-agenciya-sporazumenieto-za-evropeiska-kooperirashta-da-2463.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[Space Research and Technology Institute|SRTI]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Croatia}}
|{{dts|19 February 2018}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://m.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Croatia_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |title=Croatia signs Cooperation Agreement |last=esa |work=European Space Agency |access-date=19 February 2018 |archive-date=19 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219160012/http://m.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Croatia_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |url-status=live }}</ref>
||{{dts|23 March 2023}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mzo.gov.hr/news/minister-fuchs-signed-the-new-agreement-with-the-european-space-agency/5413 |title=Minister Fuchs signed the new Agreement with the European Space Agency |access-date=23 March 2023 |date=23 March 2023 |publisher=Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323161547/https://mzo.gov.hr/news/minister-fuchs-signed-the-new-agreement-with-the-european-space-agency/5413 |url-status=live }}</ref>
||{{dts|16 August 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Croatia becomes ESA European Cooperating State |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Croatia_becomes_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108222633/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Croatia_becomes_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|through [[Ministry of Science and Education (Croatia)|MoSE]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{Flagicon|European Union}}{{flagu|Malta}}
||{{dts|20 February 2012}}<ref name="ca2012">{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Malta_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |title=Malta signs Cooperation Agreement |date=23 February 2012 |access-date=6 September 2014 |work=ESA |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912124933/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Malta_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |url-status=live }}</ref>
||{{dts|25 October 2023}}<ref name="esa.int">{{Cite web |title=Malta becomes ESA European Cooperating State |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Malta_becomes_ESA_European_Cooperating_State |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
||{{dts|12 September 2024}}<ref name="esa.int"/>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[Malta Council for Science and Technology|MCST]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Turkey}}
|{{dts|15 July 2004}}<ref name="esa-20040906">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Turkey |title=ESA signs Cooperation Agreement with Turkey |date=6 September 2004 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=10 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110134349/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Turkey |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[Turkey Space Agency|TUA]]<br><small>(agreement with [[TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute|TÜBİTAK UZAY]])</small>
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Ukraine}}
|{{dts|25 January 2008}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nkau.gov.ua/nsau/newsnsau.nsf/HronolE/54F1C600559E994CC22573DB00489EE7?OpenDocument&Lang=E |title=A cooperation agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the European Space Agency was signed in Paris |access-date=25 January 2008 |publisher=[[State Space Agency of Ukraine]] |archive-date=2 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202043812/http://www.nkau.gov.ua/nsau/newsnsau.nsf/HronolE/54F1C600559E994CC22573DB00489EE7?OpenDocument&Lang=E |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[State Space Agency of Ukraine|SSAU]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Israel}}
|{{dts|30 January 2011}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Israel_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |title=Israel signs Cooperation Agreement |access-date=6 September 2014 |date=31 January 2011 |work=ESA.int |archive-date=11 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911215419/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Israel_signs_Cooperation_Agreement |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[Israeli Space Agency|ISA]]
|-
! scope="row" |{{flagu|Mexico}}
||{{dts|14 February 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA signs Cooperation Agreement with Mexico |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Mexico |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113122543/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Mexico |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|[[Agencia Espacial Mexicana|AEM]]
|}

During the Ministerial Meeting in December 2014, ESA ministers approved a resolution calling for discussions to begin with Israel, Australia and South Africa on future association agreements. The ministers noted that "concrete cooperation is at an advanced stage" with these nations and that "prospects for mutual benefits are existing".<ref name="parabolicarc.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/12/03/esa-expansion-deepening-international-cooperation/ |title=ESA Looks Toward Expansion, Deeper International Cooperation |website=Parabolicarc.com |date=3 December 2014 |access-date=20 August 2017 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010235407/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/12/03/esa-expansion-deepening-international-cooperation/ |url-status=live |last1=Messier |first1=Doug }}</ref>

A separate space exploration strategy resolution calls for further co-operation with the United States, Russia and China on "[[Low earth orbit|LEO]] exploration, including a continuation of [[International Space Station|ISS]] cooperation and the development of a robust plan for the coordinated use of space transportation vehicles and systems for exploration purposes, participation in robotic missions for the exploration of the Moon, the robotic exploration of Mars, leading to a broad Mars Sample Return mission in which Europe should be involved as a full partner, and human missions beyond LEO in the longer term."<ref name="parabolicarc.com" />

In August 2019, the ESA and the [[Australian Space Agency]] signed a joint statement of intent "to explore deeper cooperation and identify projects in a range of areas including deep space, communications, navigation, remote asset management, [[data analytics]] and mission support."<ref name="Australia ESA Framework">{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2019/08/25/esa-australian-space-agency-sign-cooperation-agreement/ |title=ESA, Australian Space Agency Sign Cooperation Agreement |website=Parabolicarc.com |date=25 August 2019 |access-date=6 December 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206202421/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2019/08/25/esa-australian-space-agency-sign-cooperation-agreement/ |url-status=live |last1=Messier |first1=Doug }}</ref> Details of the cooperation were laid out in a [[framework agreement]] signed by the two entities.

On 17 November 2020, ESA signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] (MOU) with the [[South African National Space Agency]] (SANSA). SANSA CEO Dr. Valanathan Munsami tweeted: "Today saw another landmark event for SANSA with the signing of an MoU with the ESA. This builds on initiatives that we have been discussing for a while already and which gives effect to these. Thanks Jan for your hand of friendship and making this possible."<ref name="SANSA ESA Framework">{{cite web |url=https://africanews.space/south-african-national-space-agency-signs-mou-with-european-space-agency/ |title=South African National Space Agency Signs MoU with European Space Agency |website=africanews.space |date=17 November 2020 |access-date=6 December 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206203602/https://africanews.space/south-african-national-space-agency-signs-mou-with-european-space-agency/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Launch vehicles ==
[[File:Ariane 1 Le Bourget FRA 001.jpg|thumb|Mock-up of the {{Nowrap |[[Ariane 1]]}}|375x375px]]The ESA currently has two operational launch vehicles [[Vega C]] and [[Ariane 6]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flying first on Ariane 6 |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Flying_first_on_Ariane_6 |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> Rocket launches are carried out by [[Arianespace]], which has 23 shareholders representing the industry that manufactures the Ariane 5 as well as [[CNES]], at the ESA's [[Guiana Space Centre]]. Because many communication satellites have equatorial orbits, launches from [[French Guiana]] are able to take larger payloads into space than from spaceports at higher latitudes. In addition, equatorial launches give spacecraft an extra 'push' of nearly 500&nbsp;m/s due to the higher [[rotational velocity]] of the Earth at the equator compared to near the Earth's poles where rotational velocity approaches zero. In 2014, ESA proposed changes to the [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane family]] development scheme by moving to competitive bids for the development of [[Ariane 6]].<ref name="aw20140310">{{cite news |last=Svitak |first=Amy |date=10 March 2014 |title=SpaceX Says Falcon 9 To Compete For EELV This Year |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310123118/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2FAW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml |archive-date=10 March 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |newspaper=Aviation Week |quote=ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain is aiming to reduce the agency's development and operational costs in a stark departure from past practice: Until now, the Ariane family of rockets has been built largely with money contributed by ESA governments seeking to participate in the program rather than through competitive industry bids. This means governments commit multiyear funding to the development with the expectation of a roughly 90% return on investment in the form of industrial workshare. But in July, when Dordain presents ESA's member states with industry proposals for building the Ariane 6, he will seek government contributions based on the best value for money, not geographic return on investment. 'To have competitive launchers, we need to rethink the launch sector in Europe.'}}</ref>

===Ariane 6===
{{Main|Ariane 6}}

Ariane 6 is a [[Heavy-lift launch vehicle|heavy lift]] [[Expendable launch system|expendable launch vehicle]] developed by [[Arianespace]]. The Ariane 6 entered into its inaugural flight campaign on 26 April 2024 with the flight conducted on 9 July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sohier |first=Camille |date=26 April 2024 |title=Start of the first Ariane 6 launch campaign on the launch pad |url=https://press.ariane.group/?p=14328 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=ArianeGroup }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Vega-C===
{{Main|Vega-C}}

[[File:Sentinel-2 and vega.jpg|thumb|Vega rocket|375x375px]]

Vega is the ESA's carrier for small satellites. Developed by seven ESA members led by [[Italian Space Agency|Italy]]. It is capable of carrying a payload with a mass of between 300 and 1500&nbsp;kg to an altitude of 700&nbsp;km, for low [[polar orbit]]. Its maiden launch from [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] was on 13 February 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega3/ESA_s_new_Vega_launcher_scores_success_on_maiden_flight |title=ESA's new Vega launcher scores success on maiden flight |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031004926/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega3/ESA_s_new_Vega_launcher_scores_success_on_maiden_flight |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Vega began full commercial exploitation in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega |title=Vega |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613192830/https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega |url-status=live }}</ref>

The rocket has three solid propulsion stages and a [[liquid rocket|liquid propulsion]] [[upper stage]] (the [[AVUM]]) for accurate orbital insertion and the ability to place multiple [[Payload (air and space craft)|payloads]] into different orbits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega |title=Vega – Launch Vehicle |date=10 May 2013 |publisher=ESA |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-date=21 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421223138/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Launch_vehicles/Vega |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asi.it/en/flash_en/accessing/vega |title=VEGA – A European carrier for small satellites |year=2012 |publisher=ASI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002510/http://www.asi.it/en/flash_en/accessing/vega |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A larger version of the Vega launcher, [[Vega (rocket)#Vega-C and Vega-E|Vega-C]] had its first flight in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_successfully_completes_inaugural_flight |title=Vega-C successfully completes inaugural flight |editor=European Space Agency |website=www.esa.int |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714090903/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C_successfully_completes_inaugural_flight |url-status=live }}</ref> The new evolution of the rocket incorporates a larger first stage booster, the [[P120 (rocket stage)|P120C]] replacing the [[P80 (rocket stage)|P80]], an upgraded [[Zefiro (rocket stage)]] second stage, and the AVUM+ upper stage. This new variant enables larger single payloads, dual payloads, return missions, and orbital transfer capabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega-C |title=Vega-C |date=9 April 2020 |publisher=ESA |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930091555/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Vega-C |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Future rocket development===
Future projects under development within the [[Future Launchers Preparatory Programme|Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP)]] include the [[Prometheus (rocket engine)|Prometheus]] reusable engine technology demonstrator, Phoebus (an upgraded second stage for [[Ariane 6]]), and [[Themis programme|Themis]] (a reusable first stage).<ref>{{Cite web |title=New ESA contracts to advance Prometheus and Phoebus projects |url=http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/New_ESA_contracts_to_advance_Prometheus_and_Phoebus_projects |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525203247/http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/New_ESA_contracts_to_advance_Prometheus_and_Phoebus_projects |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage |url=http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage |access-date=25 May 2021 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525203244/http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Human spaceflight==
[[File:Ulf D. Merbold.jpg|thumb|[[Ulf Merbold]] became the first ESA astronaut to fly into space.|313x313px]]
{{See also|European Astronaut Corps}}

===Formation and development===
[[File:Spacelab - Artist's Concept.jpg|thumb|[[Spacelab]], artist's concept]][[File:Wubbo-sl1.jpg|thumb|[[Wubbo Ockels]] in the [[Spacelab]], 1985]]
[[File:Sevilla Expo 92-Projecto ESA-1992 05 05.jpg|thumb|[[Hermes (spacecraft)|Hermes]] mockup on display during the [[Seville Expo '92|Sevilla Expo 92]]]]
[[File:Columbus module delivered to KSC.jpg|thumb|''[[Columbus (ISS module)|ISS module Columbus]]'' at Kennedy Space Center's [[Space Station Processing Facility]]]][[File:ISS-43 Samantha Cristoforetti on the Biolab in the Columbus module.jpg|thumb|[[Samantha Cristoforetti]] on the Biolab in the [[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus module]]]]
[[File:ISS-46 Timothy Peake with Space Seeds in the Cupola.jpg|thumb|[[Tim Peake|Timothy Peake]] in the [[Cupola (ISS module)|Cupola]]]]
[[File:ISS after STS-124 06 2008 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Jules Verne ATV|ATV ''Jules Verne'']] seen at the bottom of the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]
[[File:The European robotic arm extends out from the Nauka module (iss067e034864) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[European Robotic Arm]]]]
At the time the ESA was formed, its main goals did not encompass human space flight; rather it considered itself to be primarily a scientific research organisation for uncrewed space exploration in contrast to its American and Soviet counterparts. It is therefore not surprising that the first non-Soviet European in space was not an ESA astronaut on a European space craft; it was Czechoslovak [[Vladimír Remek]] who in 1978 became the first non-Soviet or American in space (the first man in space being [[Yuri Gagarin]] of the Soviet Union) – on a [[Soviet space programme|Soviet]] [[Soyuz spacecraft]], followed by the Pole [[Mirosław Hermaszewski]] and East German [[Sigmund Jähn]] in the same year. This Soviet co-operation programme, known as [[Intercosmos]], primarily involved the participation of [[Eastern bloc]] countries. In 1982, however, [[Jean-Loup Chrétien]] became the first [[Western Bloc|non-Communist Bloc]] astronaut on a flight to the Soviet [[Salyut 7]] space station.

Because Chrétien did not officially fly into space as an ESA astronaut, but rather as a member of the French [[CNES]] astronaut corps, the German [[Ulf Merbold]] is considered the first ESA astronaut to fly into space. He participated in the [[STS-9]] [[Space Shuttle]] mission that included the first use of the European-built [[Spacelab]] in 1983. STS-9 marked the beginning of an extensive ESA/NASA joint partnership that included dozens of space flights of ESA astronauts in the following years. Some of these missions with Spacelab were fully funded and organisationally and scientifically controlled by the ESA (such as two missions by Germany and one by Japan) with European astronauts as full crew members rather than guests on board. Beside paying for Spacelab flights and seats on the shuttles, the ESA continued its human space flight co-operation with the Soviet Union and later Russia, including numerous visits to [[Mir]].

During the latter half of the 1980s, European human space flights changed from being the exception to routine and therefore, in 1990, the [[European Astronaut Centre]] in [[Cologne]], Germany was established. It selects and trains prospective astronauts and is responsible for the co-ordination with international partners, especially with regard to the [[International Space Station]]. As of 2006, the ESA astronaut corps officially included twelve members, including nationals from most large European countries except the United Kingdom.

In 2008, the ESA started to recruit new astronauts so that final selection would be due in spring 2009. Almost 10,000 people registered as astronaut candidates before registration ended in June 2008. 8,413 fulfilled the initial application criteria. Of the applicants, 918 were chosen to take part in the first stage of psychological testing, which narrowed down the field to 192. After two-stage psychological tests and medical evaluation in early 2009, as well as formal interviews, six new members of the [[European Astronaut Corps]] were selected – five men and one woman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Closing_in_on_new_astronauts |title=Closing in on new astronauts |date=24 September 2008 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040507/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Closing_in_on_new_astronauts |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Crew vehicles===
In the 1980s, France pressed for an independent European crew launch vehicle. Around 1978, it was decided to pursue a reusable spacecraft model and starting in November 1987 a project to create a mini-shuttle by the name of [[Hermes (shuttle)|Hermes]] was introduced. The craft was comparable to early proposals for the [[Space Shuttle]] and consisted of a small reusable spaceship that would carry 3 to 5 astronauts and 3 to 4 metric tons of payload for scientific experiments. With a total maximum weight of 21 metric tons it would have been launched on the [[Ariane 5]] rocket, which was being developed at that time. It was planned solely for use in [[low Earth orbit]] space flights. The planning and pre-development phase concluded in 1991; the production phase was never fully implemented because at that time the political landscape had changed significantly. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the ESA looked forward to co-operation with Russia to build a next-generation space vehicle. Thus the Hermes programme was cancelled in 1995 after about 3&nbsp;billion dollars had been spent. The [[Columbus Man-Tended Free Flyer|Columbus space station programme]] had a similar fate.

In the 21st century, ESA started new programmes to create its own crew vehicles, most notable among its various projects and proposals is [[Hopper (spacecraft)|Hopper]], whose prototype by [[Airbus|EADS]], called [[EADS Phoenix|Phoenix]], has already been tested. While projects such as [[Hopper (spacecraft)|Hopper]] are neither concrete nor to be realised within the next decade, other possibilities for human spaceflight in co-operation with the [[Russian Space Agency]] have emerged. Following talks with the [[Russian Space Agency]] in 2004 and June 2005,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/space/article/0,14493,1489679,00.html |date=22 May 2005 |title=Europe to hitch space ride on Russia's rocket |first=Robin |last=McKie |work=[[The Observer]] |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152340/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/22/russia.science |url-status=live }}</ref> a co-operation between the ESA and the [[Russian Space Agency]] was announced to jointly work on the Russian-designed [[Kliper]], a reusable spacecraft that would be available for space travel beyond LEO (e.g. the moon or even Mars). It was speculated that Europe would finance part of it. A€50&nbsp;million participation study for Kliper, which was expected to be approved in December 2005, was finally not approved by ESA member states. The Russian state tender for the project was subsequently cancelled in 2006.

In June 2006, ESA member states granted 15&nbsp;million to the [[CSTS|Crew Space Transportation System]] (CSTS) study, a two-year study to design a spacecraft capable of going beyond Low-Earth orbit based on the current [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]] design. This project was pursued with [[Roskosmos]] instead of the cancelled Kliper proposal. A decision on the actual implementation and construction of the CSTS spacecraft was contemplated for 2008. In mid-2009 EADS Astrium was awarded a €21&nbsp;million study into designing a crew vehicle based on the European ATV which was believed to be the basis of the Advanced Crew Transportation System design.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coppinger |first=Rob |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/07/picture-eads-astrium-wins-21-m.html |title=EADS Astrium wins €21 million reentry vehicle study |publisher=Flightglobal.com |access-date=29 August 2011 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809071543/http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/07/picture-eads-astrium-wins-21-m.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Neither of these projects was pursued further in the 2010s.

In November 2012, ESA decided to join NASA's [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion programme]]. The ATV would form the basis of the [[European Service Module|European Service Module (ESM)]] for NASA's new crewed spacecraft. ESA may also seek to work with NASA on Orion's launch system as well to secure a seat on the spacecraft for its own astronauts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/nov/17/britons-could-explore-deep-space |title=Project Orion raises hopes that Britain could have its own man on the moon |newspaper=The Observer |date=17 November 2012 |author=Robin McKie |access-date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112123021/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/nov/17/britons-could-explore-deep-space |url-status=live }}</ref> The complete [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] with ESM flew on its first mission to Lunar orbit in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NASA's Orion capsule returns to Earth, capping Artemis I flight around moon |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasas-orion-capsule-heads-splashdown-after-artemis-i-flight-around-moon-2022-12-11/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230530094624/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasas-orion-capsule-heads-splashdown-after-artemis-i-flight-around-moon-2022-12-11/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date=2025-10-13 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2014, the ESA signed an agreement with [[Sierra Nevada Corporation]] for co-operation in [[Dream Chaser]] project. Further studies on the Dream Chaser for European Use or [[DC4EU]] project were funded, including the feasibility of launching a Europeanised Dream Chaser onboard Ariane 5.<ref name="ESA signs agreement 2014">
{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=Europe eyes cooperation on Dream Chaser space plane |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1401/08dreamchaser/ |access-date=9 January 2014 |newspaper=Spaceflight Now |date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109145644/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1401/08dreamchaser/ |archive-date=9 January 2014 |url-status=live }}
</ref><ref name="IBDM">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/One_docking_ring_to_rule_them_all |title=One docking ring to rule them all |publisher=ESA |date=3 June 2014 |access-date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910211628/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/One_docking_ring_to_rule_them_all |url-status=live }}</ref>

===International Space Station (ISS)===
{{See also|European contribution to the International Space Station}}With regard to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), the ESA is not represented by all of its member states:<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2013 |title=International Space Station legal framework |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/International_Space_Station_legal_framework |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120180424/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/International_Space_Station_legal_framework |archive-date=20 January 2022 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency}}</ref> 11 of the 22 ESA member states currently participate in the project: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Austria, Finland and Ireland chose not to participate, because of lack of interest or concerns about the expense of the project. Portugal, Luxembourg, Greece, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Estonia, and Hungary joined ESA after the agreement had been signed.

ESA takes part in the construction and operation of the [[International Space Station|ISS]], with contributions such as [[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus]], a science laboratory module that was brought into orbit by NASA's [[STS-122]] [[Space Shuttle]] mission, and the [[Cupola (ISS module)|Cupola]] observatory module that was completed in July 2005 by [[Alenia Aeronautica|Alenia Spazio]] for the ESA. The current estimates for the ISS are approaching €100&nbsp;billion in total (development, construction and 10 years of maintaining the station) of which the ESA has committed to paying €8&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 August 2005 |title=International Space Station: How much does it cost? |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/How_much_does_it_cost |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904014817/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/How_much_does_it_cost |archive-date=4 September 2014 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency}}</ref> About 90% of the costs of the ESA's ISS share will be contributed by Germany (41%), France (28%) and Italy (20%). German ESA astronaut [[Thomas Reiter]] was the first long-term ISS crew member.

ESA has developed the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle]] for ISS resupply. Each ATV has a cargo capacity of {{convert|7667|kg|lb}}.<ref name="atvspecs">{{cite web |title=Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Utilisation Relevant Data Rev. 1.2 |url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/ATV/FS003_12_ATV_updated_launch_2008.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216223216/http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/ATV/FS003_12_ATV_updated_launch_2008.pdf |archive-date=16 December 2016 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=ESA ERASMUS User Centre}}</ref> The first ATV, ''[[Jules Verne ATV|Jules Verne]]'', was launched on 9 March 2008 and on 3 April 2008 successfully docked with the ISS. This manoeuvre, considered a major technical feat, involved using automated systems to allow the ATV to track the ISS, moving at 27,000&nbsp;km/h, and attach itself with an accuracy of 2&nbsp;cm. Five vehicles were launched before the program ended with the launch of the fifth ATV, ''[[Georges Lemaître ATV|Georges Lemaître]]'', in 2014.<ref name="spaceflightnow">{{cite web |date=2 April 2012 |title=Breaking News &#124; ATV production terminated as decision on follow-on nears |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1204/02atvfuture/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030145327/https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1204/02atvfuture/ |archive-date=30 October 2019 |access-date=4 September 2012 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}</ref>

European Life and Physical Sciences research on board the International Space Station (ISS) is mainly based on the [[European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences in Space]] programme that was initiated in 2001.

== CubeSats ==
Since 2015, ESA has launched numerous [[CubeSat]]-type [[small satellite]]s supported through various programmes:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Technology CubeSats |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Technology_CubeSats |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Technology CubeSats |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Technology_CubeSats/ESA_Technology_CubeSats |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) ===
[[File:Los nanosatélites GomX-4A (izquierda) y GomX-4B (derecha) en un laboratorio de la ESA.jpg|thumb|''GomX-4A'' (left) and ''[[GOMX-4B|GomX-4B]]'' (right)]]
[[File:Qarman CubeSat in Hertz test chamber 23544725971 12591f5a27 o.jpg|thumb|''[[QARMAN]]'' CubeSat in test chamber]]
[[File:Qarman CubeSat deployed from ISS.jpg|thumb|''[[QARMAN]]'' CubeSat deployed from [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]GSTP also supports other non-CubeSat [[small satellite]] missions, e.g. the [[PROBA satellite series|PROBA series]].<ref>[https://inovacijuagentura.lt/site/binaries/content/assets/finansavimo-priemones/europos-kosmoso-agenturos-gstp/1_gstp-de-risk-call_vilnius_19-march.pdf Information Session: General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)]</ref>

* ''[[GOMX-3]]'', launched in 2015
* ''[[GOMX-4B]]'', launched in 2018
* ''[[QARMAN]]'', launched in 2019
* ''[[OPS-SAT]]'', launched in 2019
* [[SIMBA (satellite)|''SIMBA'']], launched in 2020
* [[PICASSO (satellite)|''PICASSO'']], launched in 2020
* ''[[RadCube]]'', launched in 2021
* [[Sunstorm (spacecraft)|''Sunstorm'']], launched in 2021
* [[PRETTY (satellite)|''PRETTY'']], launched in 2023
* ''[[PROBA-V CubeSat Companion]]'', launched in 2023
* ''[[GENA-OT]]'', launching in 2025
* ''[[CubeSpec]]'', launching in 2026
* ''[[SROC]]'', launching in 2026
* ''[[GOMX-5]]'', launching in 2026
* ''[[HENON]]'', launching in 2026
* ''[[e.Inspector]]'', launching in 2027
* ''[[Vulcain (satellite)|Vulcain]]'', launching in 2027
* [[LUMIO (space mission)|''LUMIO'']], launching in 2027
* [[M-Argo|''M-ARGO'']], launching in 2027

=== Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) ===
FYS is an educational programme for student teams developing [[CubeSat]]s or [[PocketQube]]s<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Fly Your Satellite! |url=https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/About_Fly_Your_Satellite! |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

* AAUSAT5, deployed from the ISS in 2015 (FYS Pilot Edition)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulu |first=Erik |title=AAUSAT5 |url=https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/aausat5.html |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=Nanosats Database |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowing |first=Keith |date=2015-08-18 |title=Student Satellite Headed To International Space Station |url=https://spaceref.com/newspace-and-tech/student-satellite-headed-to-international-space-station/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=SpaceRef |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-04 |title=AAUSAT5 communicates with students on Earth |url=https://amsat-uk.org/2015/11/04/aausat5-communicates-with-students-on-earth/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=AMSAT-UK |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">[https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/workshops/2016-small-sat/Documents/ITU-Symp-2016-ESA.pdf FLY YOUR SATELLITE! The ESA Academy CubeSats programme]</ref>
* [[E-st@r-II|e-sta@r-II]], OUFTI-1, and AAUSAT4, launched in 2016 (FYS First Edition)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Student satellites fly freely on their orbit in space |url=https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Student_satellites_fly_freely_on_their_orbit_in_space |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" />
* LEDSAT, launched in 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=LEDSAT is launched |url=https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/LEDSAT_is_launched |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LEDSAT |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/ledsat.htm |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}</ref>
* [[EIRSAT-1]], launched in 2023
* [[ISTSat-1]] and <sup>3</sup>Cat-4, launched in 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=3Cat 4 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/3cat-4.htm |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lift-off for ³Cat-4 and ISTSat-1 |url=https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Lift-off_for_3Cat-4_and_ISTSat-1 |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== FutureEO Programme ===
{{Main|FutureEO}}

* ''[[Phi-Sat-1]]'', launched in 2020<ref name=":4">[https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/FutureEO_brochure_2025.pdf FutureEO brochure]</ref>
* ''[[Intuition-1]]'', launched in 2023<ref name=":1" />
* ''[[Phi-Sat-2]]'', launched in 2024<ref name=":4" />

=== InCubed ===
The InCubed co-funding programme, managed by ESA's [[Phi Lab|Φ-lab]]''',''' supports innovative technologies for [[Earth observation satellite|Earth observation satellities]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=InCubed |url=https://incubed.esa.int/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=incubed.esa.int |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA InCubed {{!}} Startup Program - OVHcloud |url=https://startup.ovhcloud.com/en/partners-community/incubed/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=startup.ovhcloud.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://eo4society.esa.int/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023_TAT10_PhiLab_BLeSaux_ALacroix_Theory.pdf ESA InCubed programme]</ref>
* ''[[MANTIS (satellite)|MANTIS]]'', launched in 2023<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Two ESA Φ-lab-enabled satellites launched |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Two_ESA_Ph-lab-enabled_satellites_launched |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Southgate |first=Vix |date=2025-10-22 |title=Open Cosmos celebrates successful completion of landmark MANTIS mission |url=https://www.bis-space.com/open-cosmos-celebrates-successful-completion-of-landmark-mantis-mission/ |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=The British Interplanetary Society |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[AIX (satellites)|AIX]], launched in 2025<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=InCubed launches highlight ESA's support for innovation |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/InCubed_launches_highlight_ESA_s_support_for_innovation |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Three InCubed-enabled Satellites Take New Heights |url=https://commercialisation.esa.int/2025/01/three-incubed-enabled-satellites-take-new-heights/}}</ref>
* [[HiVE]], the High-precision Versatile Ecosphere constellation – first satellite launched in 2025<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
* ''[[FOREST-3]]'', launched in 2025<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
* ''IVSEN''<ref>{{Cite web |title=IVSEN {{!}} InCubed |url=https://incubed.esa.int/portfolio/ivsen/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=incubed.esa.int |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Space |first=Alén |date=2025-11-10 |title=ESA InCubed IVSEN project kicked off |url=https://alen.space/esa-incubed-ivsen-project-kicked-off/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=Alén Space |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=InfoEspacial |title=Satlantis, Alén Space, DHV Technology y GeoAI desarrollan el microsatélite Ivsen |url=https://www.infoespacial.com/texto-diario/mostrar/5669558/satlantis-alen-space |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=Infoespacial |language=es}}</ref>

=== Space Safety Programme (S2P) ===
{{Main|Space Safety Programme}}

* [[Hera (space mission)#Juventas|''Juventas'']] and [[Hera (space mission)#Milani|''Milani'']], launched in 2024 together with [[Hera (space mission)|''Hera'']]
* [[Satis (spacecraft)|''Satis'']], launch planned for 2030

=== Greek CubeSat In-Orbit Validation ===

* ''[[DUTHSat-2]]'', launched in 2025<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-09-25 |title=Three further ESA-supported Greek CubeSats ready for launch |url=https://connectivity.esa.int/news/three-further-esasupported-greek-cubesats-ready-launch |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=connectivity.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[MICE-1]]'', launching in 2025<ref name=":5" />
* [[PHASMA]] (''LAMARR'' and ''DIRAC''), launching in 2025
* ERMIS, launching in 2026<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Greek CubeSats ready for assembly |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Greek_CubeSats_ready_for_assembly |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
* Hellenic Space Dawn, launching in 2026<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
* ''OptiSat'', launching in 2026''<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />''
* ''PeakSat'', launching in 2026''<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />''

=== In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) ===
IOD/IOV is a European Union programme entrusted to ESA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sarunas |date=2025-10-15 |title=ESA picks Kongsberg NanoAvionics to build spacecraft for the ESA-EC “IOD/IOV” programme |url=https://nanoavionics.com/news/esa-picks-kongsberg-nanoavionics-to-build-spacecraft-for-the-esa-ec-iod-iov-programme/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=NanoAvionics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) - Defence Industry and Space |url=https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space/research-development-and-innovation/orbit-demonstration-and-validation-iodiov_en |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Cosmos kicks off first Rideshare mission for the European Commission's IOD/IOV programme |url=https://www.open-cosmos.com/news/open-cosmos-kicks-off-first-rideshare-mission-for-the-european-commissions-iod-iov-programme |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=www.open-cosmos.com}}</ref>

* ''CASSINI IHE1-1''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title=Elecnor Deimos to Lead the next EU Space Programme's Cassini Mission - Deimos Space |url=https://deimos-space.com/deimos-leads-cassini/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''IHE-1-4''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magnetic experiment for LISA in the Horizon Europe IHE1-4 spacecraft |url=https://spie.org/future-sensing-technologies/presentation/Magnetic-experiment-for-LISA-in-the-Horizon-Europe-IHE1-4/13710-19 |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=spie.org}}</ref>
* ''IHE1-5<ref name=":0" />''

=== European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) ===

* ''[[VMMO]]'', launching in 2028

==Cooperation with other countries and organisations==
The ESA has signed co-operation agreements with the following states that currently neither plan to integrate as tightly with ESA institutions as Canada, nor envision future membership of the ESA: Argentina,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/ESA_and_Argentina_sign_extension_of_Cooperation_Agreement |title=ESA and Argentina sign extension of Cooperation Agreement |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=12 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212013142/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Industry/ESA_and_Argentina_sign_extension_of_Cooperation_Agreement |url-status=live }}</ref> Brazil,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_on_the_world_stage_-_international_agreements_with_Brazil_Poland_and_India |title=ESA on the world stage – international agreements with Brazil, Poland and India |date=1 February 2002 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530150112/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_on_the_world_stage_-_international_agreements_with_Brazil_Poland_and_India |url-status=live }}</ref> China,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-05zzzzzzzzzzzh.html |title=Closer relations between ESA and China |date=21 November 2005 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=Space Daily |archive-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906133647/http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-05zzzzzzzzzzzh.html |url-status=live }}</ref> India,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/SMART-1/Agreement_signed_for_European_instruments_on_Chandrayaan-1 |title=Agreement signed for European instruments on Chandrayaan-1 |date=1 July 2005 |access-date=6 September 2014 |publisher=European Space Agency |archive-date=18 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518152751/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/SMART-1/Agreement_signed_for_European_instruments_on_Chandrayaan-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Russia,<ref name="AR2003">{{cite book |url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/annuals/annual03/ar3_agree_signed.pdf |chapter=Agreements 2003 |title=ESA Annual Report 2003 |publisher=European Space Agency |pages=112–113 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=21 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621084029/http://www.esa.int/esapub/annuals/annual03/ar3_agree_signed.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and Turkey.<ref name="esa-20040906" /> Additionally, the ESA has joint projects with the [[European Union Agency for the Space Programme|EUSPA]] of the European Union, [[NASA]] of the United States and is participating in the [[International Space Station]] together with the United States ([[NASA]]), Russia ([[Roscosmos]]), Japan ([[JAXA]]), and Canada ([[Canadian Space Agency|CSA]]).

===National space organisations of member states===
*The ''[[CNES|Centre National d'Études Spatiales]]'' (CNES) (National Centre for Space Study) is the French government space agency (administratively, a "public establishment of industrial and commercial character"). Its headquarters are in central Paris. CNES is the main participant on the Ariane project. Indeed, CNES designed and tested all Ariane family rockets (mainly from its centre in [[Évry, Essonne|Évry]] near Paris)
*The [[UK Space Agency]] is a partnership of the UK government departments which are active in space. Through the UK Space Agency, the partners provide delegates to represent the UK on the various ESA governing bodies. Each partner funds its own programme.
*The [[Italian Space Agency]] (''Agenzia Spaziale Italiana'' or ASI) was founded in 1988 to promote, co-ordinate and conduct space activities in Italy. Operating under the Ministry of the Universities and of Scientific and Technological Research, the agency cooperates with numerous entities active in space technology and with the president of the Council of Ministers. Internationally, the ASI provides Italy's delegation to the Council of the European Space Agency and to its subordinate bodies.
*The [[German Aerospace Center]] (DLR) (German: ''Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.'') is the national research centre for aviation and space flight of the Federal Republic of Germany and of other member states in the [[Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres|Helmholtz Association]]. Its extensive research and development projects are included in national and international cooperative programmes. In addition to its research projects, the centre is the assigned space agency of Germany bestowing headquarters of German space flight activities and its associates.
*The [[Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial]] (INTA) (National Institute for Aerospace Technique) is a Public Research Organisation specialised in aerospace research and technology development in Spain. Among other functions, it serves as a platform for space research and acts as a significant testing facility for the aeronautic and space sector in the country.

===NASA===
The ESA has a long history of collaboration with [[NASA]]. Since ESA's astronaut corps was formed, the [[Space Shuttle]] has been the primary launch vehicle used by the ESA's astronauts to get into space through partnership programmes with NASA. In the 1980s and 1990s, the [[Spacelab]] programme was an ESA-NASA joint research programme that had the ESA develop and manufacture orbital labs for the Space Shuttle for several flights in which the ESA participates with astronauts in experiments.

In October 2020, ESA entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NASA to collaborate on the [[Artemis program]], which will provide an orbiting [[Lunar Gateway]] and also accomplish the first crewed lunar landing in 50 years, whose team will include the [[first woman on the Moon]]. Astronaut selection announcements are expected within two years of the 2024 scheduled launch date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bridenstine |first=Jim |date=27 October 2020 |title=NASA, ESA Sign MOU to Work Together on Artemis Lunar Program – Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2020/10/27/nasa-esa-sign-mou-to-work-together-on-artemis-lunar-program/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415174858/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2020/10/27/nasa-esa-sign-mou-to-work-together-on-artemis-lunar-program/ |archive-date=15 April 2021 |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=Parabolic Arc |language=en-US}}</ref> ESA also purchases seats on the NASA operated [[Commercial Crew Program]]. The first ESA astronaut to be on a Commercial Crew Program mission was [[Thomas Pesquet]] who launched into space aboard [[Dragon 2|Crew Dragon]] [[Crew Dragon Endeavour|Endeavour]] on the [[SpaceX Crew-2|Crew-2]] mission. Following ESA astronauts on [[Dragon 2|Crew Dragon]] missions were [[Matthias Maurer]] ([[SpaceX Crew-3|Crew-3]]), [[Samantha Cristoforetti]] ([[SpaceX Crew-4|Crew-4]]), and others.

In robotic science mission and exploration missions, NASA has been the ESA's main partner. ''[[Cassini–Huygens]]'' was a joint NASA-ESA mission, along with the [[Infrared Space Observatory]], [[INTEGRAL]], [[Solar and Heliospheric Observatory|SOHO]], and others. The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] and [[James Webb Space Telescope]] are joint projects of NASA and ESA. Possible future ESA-NASA joint projects include the [[Laser Interferometer Space Antenna]], [[Mars sample-return mission]], and others.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzSJzQEACAAJ|title=European Space Policy and Programs Handbook |publisher=International Business Publications |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4330-1532-8 |page=32 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=published |first=Robert Lea |date=2025-06-12 |title=European Space Agency reveals 3 key space missions threatened by Trump's NASA budget cuts |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/european-space-agency-reveals-3-key-european-space-missions-threatened-by-trumps-nasa-budget-cuts |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref>

=== JAXA ===
ESA and the [[JAXA|Japanese Space Agency]] (JAXA) have engaged in long-standing collaboration in various domains of space exploration, satellite technology, space science, and human spaceflight. Their partnership has evolved over the decades, focusing on joint missions, technology sharing, and international cooperation in space exploration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=JAXA and ESA sign joint statement on Next Big Cooperation |url=https://www.globaldefenseaerospacepost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3519 |access-date=29 June 2025}}</ref> Some of the programs include [[BepiColombo|BepiColombo Mission]], [[EarthCARE]], [[Hera (space mission)|Hera]], and [[Comet Interceptor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=JAXA-ESA Joint Statement on Next Big Cooperations |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/JAXA-ESA_Joint_Statement_on_Next_Big_Cooperations |access-date=29 June 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comet Interceptor construction moves forward |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Comet_Interceptor/Comet_Interceptor_construction_moves_forward |access-date=29 June 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, ESA opened its first Asian office in [[Tokyo]], Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2025-10-28 |title=ESA Expands Global Presence with First Office in Japan |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-expands-global-presence-with-first-office-in-japan/ |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Roscosmos ===
In the 2000s and 2010s, ESA collaborated with the [[Roscosmos|Russian Space Agency]] (Roscosmos) on the development of the crewed vehicle [[CSTS]] (later cancelled), the use of [[French Guiana]]'s [[Guiana Space Centre]] spaceport for launches of [[Soyuz-2 (rocket)|Soyuz-2]] rockets, and the [[ExoMars|ExoMars programme]] including the [[Schiaparelli EDM|''Schiaparelli'']] lander and the [[Trace Gas Orbiter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA and Russia launch new partnership |url=https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/23212-esa-and-russia-launch-new-partnership |access-date=29 June 2025 |website=CORDIS {{!}} European Commission |language=en}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20161019">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=19 October 2016 |title=ExoMars Mission to Join Crowd of Spacecraft at Mars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/20/science/esa-mars-lander.html |access-date=19 October 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 2022, most collaboration with the Russian Space Agency was terminated after Russian [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Redirecting ESA programmes in response to geopolitical crisis |url=https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Redirecting_ESA_programmes_in_response_to_geopolitical_crisis |access-date=29 June 2025 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== CNSA ===
ESA and the [[China National Space Administration|Chinese Space Agency]] (CNSA) cooperated on development of the [[Double Star (satellite)|Double Star Mission]].<ref>{{cite video |url=http://www.ucd.ie/news/2010/10OCT10/011010-ESA-space-satellite-results-examined-at-UCD-hosted-conference.html#video |title=An interview with David Southwood, ESA Science Director |date=29 March 2008 |medium=Video |publisher=Space.co.uk |access-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104152406/http://www.ucd.ie/news/2010/10OCT10/011010-ESA-space-satellite-results-examined-at-UCD-hosted-conference.html#video |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, ESA sent two astronauts to China for two weeks sea survival training with Chinese astronauts in [[Yantai]], Shandong.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 June 2018 |title=Why Europe's astronauts are learning Chinese |url=http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180626-why-europes-astronauts-are-learning-chinese |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628123150/http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180626-why-europes-astronauts-are-learning-chinese |archive-date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018 |website=BBC News}}</ref> In 2024, the joint [[Einstein Probe]] was launched.<ref>{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe in a nutshell |url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/Einstein_Probe_in_a_nutshell |access-date=28 December 2023 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> The joint [[SMILE (spacecraft)|SMILE]] mission will launch in 2025 to image for the first time the magnetosphere of the Sun in soft X-rays and UV<ref name="smile-mssl">{{cite web |title=SMILE: Summary |url=http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/SMILE/ |access-date=19 December 2018 |publisher=[[Mullard Space Science Laboratory|UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory]]}}</ref>

=== ISRO ===
ESA provided instruments for the [[ISRO|Indian Space Agency (ISRO)]]'s lunar mission [[Chandrayaan-1]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.co.uk/DataBank/Transcripts/20080329DavidSouthwood/tabid/441/Default.aspx |title=David Southwood at the 2008 UK Space Conference |date=29 March 2008 |work=Space.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208204803/http://www.space.co.uk/DataBank/Transcripts/20080329DavidSouthwood/tabid/441/Default.aspx |archive-date=8 December 2008 }}</ref> Since 2024, ESA has been supporting ISRO's [[human spaceflight]] programme [[Gaganyaan]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-12-06 |title=ISRO ties up with European Space Agency for Gaganyaan missions |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-ties-up-with-european-space-agency-for-gaganyaan-missions/article68954151.ece |access-date=2025-11-04 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-06 |title=ISRO signs Technical Implementing Plan with European Space Agency for network operation support for Gaganyaan missions |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/isro-signs-technical-implementing-plan-with-european-space-agency-for-network-operation-support-for-gaganyaan-missions/articleshow/116039994.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-11-04 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Successful accomplishment of joint ISRO-ESA Radio Frequency Compatibility Tests (RFCT) for Gaganyaan Missions |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Successful_accomplishment_ISRO-ESA_RFCT_Gaganyaan_Missions.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA and Indian space agency ISRO agree on future cooperation |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_Ground_Stations/ESA_and_Indian_space_agency_ISRO_agree_on_future_cooperation |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== AfSA ===
ESA has been cooperating with the [[African Union]]'s [[African Space Agency|African Space Agency (AfSA)]] since its formation (itself inspired by ESA<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atalayar |date=2023-02-13 |title=55 countries on the continent stand up the African Space Agency |url=https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/new-technologies-innovation/55-countries-continent-stand-african-space-agency/20230213101241160126.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Atalayar |language=en}}</ref>) in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA welcomes inauguration of the African Space Agency |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_welcomes_inauguration_of_the_African_Space_Agency |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA and AfSA join forces for systems engineering training |url=https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy/ESA_and_AfSA_join_forces_for_systems_engineering_training |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

==Link between ESA and EU==
{{Main|European Union Space Programme#EU/ESA Space Council}}

The ESA is an independent space agency and not under the jurisdiction of the European Union, although they have common goals, share funding, and work together often.<ref name="m.esa.int">{{Cite web|title=ESA and the EU|url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_and_the_EU|access-date=4 June 2021|website=www.esa.int|language=en|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604101837/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_and_the_EU|url-status=live}}</ref> The initial aim of the European Union (EU) was to make the European Space Agency an [[Agency of the European Union|agency of the EU]] by 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br268/br268.pdf |title=Agenda : A Document by the ESA Director General and the ESA Directors – October 2006 |website=Esa.int |access-date=11 February 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225015/http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br268/br268.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> While the EU and its member states fund together 86% of the budget of the ESA, it is not an EU agency. Furthermore, the ESA has several non-EU members, most notably the United Kingdom which [[Brexit|left the EU]] while remaining a full member of the ESA. The ESA is partnered with the EU on its two current flagship space programmes, the [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus series of Earth observation satellites]] and the [[Galileo (satellite navigation)|Galileo satellite navigation system]], with the ESA providing technical oversight and, in the case of Copernicus, some of the funding.<ref name="Space News-2021">{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-mend-relations/|date=22 January 2021|title=ESA and EU mend relations|website=[[Space News]]|access-date=10 April 2021|archive-date=16 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152310/https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-mend-relations/|url-status=live |first=Jeff |last=Foust}}</ref> The EU, though, has shown an interest in expanding into new areas, whence the proposal to rename and expand its satellite navigation agency (the [[European GNSS Agency]]) into the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The proposal drew strong criticism from the ESA, as it was perceived as encroaching on the ESA's turf.<ref name="Space News-2021" />

In January 2021, after years of acrimonious relations, EU and ESA officials mended their relationship, with the EU Internal Market commissioner [[Thierry Breton]] saying "The European space policy will continue to rely on the ESA and its unique technical, engineering and science expertise," and that the "ESA will continue to be the European agency for space matters.<ref name="Space News-2021" /> If we are to be successful in our European strategy for space, and we will be, I will need the ESA by my side." ESA director Aschbacher reciprocated, saying "I would really like to make the ESA the main agency, the go-to agency of the European Commission for all its flagship programmes." The ESA and [[European Union Agency for the Space Programme|EUSPA]] are now seen to have distinct roles and competencies, which will be officialised in the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA).<ref name="Space News-2021" /> Whereas the ESA's focus will be on the technical elements of the EU space programmes, the [[European Union Agency for the Space Programme|EUSPA]] will handle the operational elements of those programmes.<ref name="Space News-2021" />

== Employment ==
As of 2023, Many other facilities are operated by national space agencies in close collaboration with the ESA. The ESA employs around 2,547 people, and thousands of contractors. Initially, new employees are contracted for an expandable four-year term, which is until the organisation's retirement age of 63. According to the ESA's documents, the staff can receive myriad of perks, such as financial childcare support, retirement plans, and financial help when migrating. The ESA also prevents employees from disclosing any private documents or correspondences to outside parties. ''[[Ars Technica]]'''s 2023 report, which contained testimonies of 18 people, suggested that there is a widespread harassment between management and its employees, especially with its contractors. Since the ESA is an international organisation, unaffiliated with any single nation, any form of legal action is difficult to raise against the organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pultarova |first=Tereza |date=7 November 2023 |title=The European Space Agency may have a bullying problem |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/contractors-accuse-european-space-agency-of-a-culture-of-harassment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108115307/https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/contractors-accuse-european-space-agency-of-a-culture-of-harassment/ |archive-date=8 November 2023 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Security incidents==
On 3 August 1984, the ESA's Paris headquarters were severely damaged and six people were hurt when a bomb exploded. It was planted by the far-left armed [[Action directe (armed group)|Action Directe]] group.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/03/world/bomb-shatters-officeof-europe-space-unit.html |title=Bomb Shatters Office of Europe Space Unit |work=The New York Times |date=3 August 1984 |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195253/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/03/world/bomb-shatters-officeof-europe-space-unit.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 14 December 2015, hackers from [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] breached the ESA's subdomains and leaked thousands of login credentials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hackread.com/anonymous-hacks-european-space-agency-domains/|title=Anonymous Hacks European Space Agency Domains|date=14 December 2015|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195053/https://www.hackread.com/anonymous-hacks-european-space-agency-domains/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{Section link|European integration#Space}}
*[[European Space Security and Education Centre]]
*[[Eurospace]]
*[[List of European Space Agency programmes and missions]]
*[[List of government space agencies]]
*[[SEDS]]
*[[Space Night]]

===European Union matters===
*[[Agencies of the European Union]]
*[[Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space]]
*[[Enhanced co-operation]]
*[[European Union Agency for the Space Programme]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Library resources box}}
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ESA_Publications/ ESA Bulletin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202154104/http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ESA_Publications/ |date=2 December 2008 }} ([http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_Publications_Bulletin ESA Bulletin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120012013/http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_Publications_Bulletin |date=20 January 2013 }}) is a quarterly magazine about the work of ESA that can be subscribed to [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/EUESA/subscriber/new?topic_id=EUESA_42 European Space Agency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512130722/https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/EUESA/subscriber/new?topic_id=EUESA_42 |date=12 May 2013 }} free of charge.
*Bonnet, Roger; Manno, Vittorio (1994). ''International Cooperation in Space: The Example of the European Space Agency'' (Frontiers of Space). [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-674-45835-4}}.
*Johnson, Nicholas (1993). ''Space technologies and space science activities of member states of the European Space Agency''. {{OCLC|29768749}} .
*Peeters, Walter (2000). ''Space Marketing: A European Perspective'' (Space Technology Library). {{ISBN|0-7923-6744-8}}.
* {{cite book|author=Zabusky, Stacia |date=2001 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7t549 |title=Launching Europe: An Ethnography of European Cooperation in Space Science |publisher=Princeton University Press |jstor=j.ctt7t549 |isbn=978-0-691-02972-6 |access-date=21 March 2025}}
*Harvey, Brian (2003). ''Europe's Space Programme: To Ariane and Beyond''. {{ISBN|1-85233-722-2}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikinews category}}
*{{Official website}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100316203007/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/space/index_en.htm A European strategy for space] – [[Europa (web portal)|Europa]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101122114906/http://www.esa.int/esapub/sp/sp1300/sp1300EN1.pdf Convention for the establishment of a European Space Agency], September 2005
*[https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/I._Privileges_and_immunities Convention for the Establishment of a European Space Agency, Annex I: Privileges and Immunities]
*[https://archives.eui.eu/en/isaar/59 European Space Agency fonds] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230606/http://apps.eui.eu/HAEU/OralHistory/EN/ESAOH.asp 'Oral History of Europe in Space'] project run by the European Space Agency at the [http://www.eui.eu/Research/HistoricalArchivesOfEU/Index.aspx Historical Archives of the EU] in Florence
*[http://open.esa.int Open access at the European Space Agency]

{{European Space Agency|state=uncollapsed}}{{European human spaceflight|state=collapsed}}{{Ariane}}
{{James Webb Space Telescope}}
{{Politics of outer space}}
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[[Category:European Space Agency| ]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1975]]
[[Category:International scientific organizations based in Europe]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Paris]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:European astronauts]]
[[Category:European space programmes|*]]
[[Category:Space agencies]]
[[Category:Space policy of the European Union]]