What is the full form of the ESA?
The ESA full form is the European Space Agency. It is a European research organization in the field of space technology, created in 1975 by the merger of the European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO) and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO). It consists of 22 member states and has its headquarters in Paris. Additionally, it has branches in a number of European nations.
Read Other Full Forms
Evolution of ESA
- Europe acknowledged the need for a space program following the Second World War.
- Ultimately, in 1958, two important European scientists, Pierre Auger and Edoardo Amaldi, advocated merging European governments and establishing a CERN-like organization.
- In 1964, a framework was established to construct launchers for the European Launch Development organization and spacecraft for the European Space Research Organization (ESRO).
- Ten years after the merger of ELDO and ESRO and the contributions of its ten founding member nations, the European Space Agency was established in 1975.
- Cos-B was the first scheduled satellite mission to examine gamma radiation in space.
- Under the direction of the ESA Board of Governors, the European Space Agency establishes its European Space Programs.
- The Director-General of the ESA is appointed by the Council for a five-year term.
Missions of ESA
- ESA’s mission is to shape the expansion of Europe’s space capabilities and to ensure that investments in space programs benefit Europeans and the global community.
- It is also responsible for civilian space operations in Europe and is a major contributor to the international space station.
- In addition, it has many satellite programs designed to examine both Earth and other worlds.
- Among its key missions are Mars Express, which orbits the Red Planet, and Rosetta, a spacecraft that penetrated Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014.