The European Space Agency (ESA) is an international organization that coordinates and manages the space research and technology development efforts of its member states. The agency was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Paris, France. It has a staff of around 2,200 people and an annual budget of over €7 billion.

ESA's mission is 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. To achieve this, the agency conducts a wide range of activities, including launching satellites, developing new technologies, and conducting scientific missions to explore the universe.

ESA works closely with a number of partners, including other space agencies, universities, and private companies, to advance the state of space research and technology. The agency also plays a leading role in a number of international space programs, including the International Space Station and the European Union's Galileo satellite navigation system. Overall, ESA's goal is to foster cooperation and innovation in space exploration and technology development, and to use space to benefit humanity.

Link: https://www.esa.int/