ARCturus

ESA, the European Space Agency, was founded in 1975. It has 22 member countries plus an agreement on co-operation with Canada. The headquarters of ESA are situated in Paris, whereas ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, is in Noordwijk, Holland. Outside the closed area, there is an exhibition centre, Space Expo, which is open to the public. It introduces tools and materials used in the space research and observations. The public is allowed to enter the space probes and try to reach a sense of the atmosphere the astronauts inevitably experience in such minimum-space circumstances. ESA has many centres all over the world; each one of them specialized in various topics.

ESA has sent several scientific satellites and probes in space. It is also a co-founder of the International Space Station (ISS). ESA co-operates with many space organizations in various countries, e.g. the US (NASA), Russia, China and India. ESA has contributed to the Manned Spaceflights Programme by developing better tools. As a special contribution, ESA has arranged zero gravity flights by using Airbus A300 aeroplanes.

In addition to the materials of astronomy and space research, ESA has also an Education Office. It provides materials and toolkits which are specially meant for schools and teachers. ESA arranges educational courses for the teachers as well as exhibits and introduces its materials in various international educational events and conferences.

(www.esa.int)

 

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