Qu'est-ce (qui) est European Space Agency - définition
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![[[Ariane 1]]}}](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Ariane 1 Le Bourget FRA 001.jpg?width=200 "[[Ariane 1]]}}")
![[[Ariane 5]] ECA transported to the [[ELA-3]] launch pad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Ariane 5ECA on its way to launch pad ELA-3.jpg?width=200 "[[Ariane 5]] ECA transported to the [[ELA-3]] launch pad")
![ISS module Columbus]]'' at Kennedy Space Center's [[Space Station Processing Facility]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Columbus module delivered to KSC.jpg?width=200 "ISS module Columbus]]'' at Kennedy Space Center's [[Space Station Processing Facility]]")
![ESTEC]] buildings in [[Noordwijk]], Netherlands. ESTEC was the main technical centre of ESRO and remains so for the successor organisation (ESA).](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ESA-ESTEC5.jpg?width=200 "ESTEC]] buildings in [[Noordwijk]], Netherlands. ESTEC was the main technical centre of ESRO and remains so for the successor organisation (ESA).")
![[[Ulf Merbold]] became the first ESA astronaut to fly into space.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Ulf D. Merbold.jpg?width=200 "[[Ulf Merbold]] became the first ESA astronaut to fly into space.")
Wikipédia
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The European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, ESA has a worldwide staff of about 2,200 in 2018 and an annual budget of about €4.9 billion in 2023.
ESA's space flight programme includes human spaceflight (mainly through participation in the International Space Station program); the launch and operation of uncrewed exploration missions to other planets and the Moon; Earth observation, science and telecommunication; designing launch vehicles; and maintaining a major spaceport, the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou (French Guiana), France. The main European launch vehicle Ariane 5 is operated through Arianespace with ESA sharing in the costs of launching and further developing this launch vehicle. The agency is also working with NASA to manufacture the Orion spacecraft service module that will fly on the Space Launch System.
