ESA

ESA · Earth orbit · Gamma-ray astronomy

First ESA space mission; provided the first comprehensive gamma-ray map of the Milky Way.

United States / ESA · Sun–Earth L1 / comet · Heliophysics / comet flyby

First spacecraft placed at Sun–Earth L1; later flew by comet Giacobini–Zinner.

ESA · Halley’s Comet · Comet flyby

First deep-space mission by ESA; close flyby of Halley’s Comet.

ESA · Earth orbit · Astrometry

First space astrometry mission.

NASA / ESA · Earth orbit · Space observatory

Landmark optical/UV/near-IR observatory; transformed astronomy.

ESA / NASA · Sun · Solar observatory

First mission to study the heliosphere above and below the Sun’s poles.

ESA / NASA · Sun–Earth L1 · Solar observatory

Long-running solar and heliospheric observatory.

ESA / NASA · Sun–Earth L1 · Solar observatory

Solar and heliospheric observatory.

NASA / ESA / ASI · Saturn / Titan · Orbiter / lander

Cassini orbited Saturn; Huygens made the first landing in the outer Solar System.

ESA · Earth orbit · Magnetospheric science

Four-spacecraft mission studying Earth’s magnetic environment.

ESA · Earth orbit · Gamma-ray astronomy

International gamma-ray observatory.

ESA · Mars · Orbiter / lander

Mars Express remains a major orbiter; Beagle 2 failed to fully deploy.

ESA · Moon · Lunar orbiter / technology

Electric-propulsion lunar science mission.

ESA · Comet 67P · Comet orbiter / lander

First mission to orbit and land on a comet (Philae, 2014).

Japan / United States / United Kingdom / ESA · Earth orbit · Solar observatory

Solar magnetic-field and corona mission.

ESA / NASA / ASI · Titan · Planetary lander

First landing in the outer Solar System.

ESA · Venus · Planetary orbiter

Long-duration Venus atmospheric science mission.

France / ESA partners · Earth orbit · Exoplanet / stellar science

Early space exoplanet and asteroseismology mission.

ESA · Sun–Earth L2 · Infrared astronomy

Far-infrared and submillimetre observatory.

ESA · Sun–Earth L2 · Cosmology

Precision cosmic microwave background mission.

ESA · Earth orbit · Earth science

Ice-sheet and sea-ice elevation monitoring.

ESA · Sun–Earth L2 · Space observatory

Created an unprecedented 3D map of the Milky Way.

ESA · Comet 67P · Comet orbiter / lander

First comet landing; Rosetta’s long-term comet study was transformative.

ESA · Sun–Earth L1 · Gravitational-wave technology

Demonstrated precision technology for space gravitational-wave observatories.

ESA / Russia · Mars · Planetary orbiter / landing demonstrator

TGO entered Mars orbit successfully; Schiaparelli crashed during descent.

ESA / JAXA · Mercury · Planetary orbiter

Joint mission en route to investigate Mercury and its environment.

ESA · Earth orbit · Exoplanet astronomy

Characterizes known exoplanets.

NASA / ESA / CSA · Sun–Earth L2 · Space observatory

Flagship infrared observatory for early-universe, exoplanet and solar-system science.

ESA / NASA · Sun · Solar observatory

Studies the Sun and heliosphere, including high-latitude solar views.

ESA · Sun–Earth L2 · Space observatory

Maps the dark universe through a wide extragalactic survey.

ESA · Jupiter icy moons · Planetary orbiter

En route to study Jupiter and its ocean-bearing moons.

ESA · Asteroid Dimorphos · Planetary-defence mission

Launched to examine the outcome of DART’s asteroid deflection.