The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Artist's impression of a magnetar with a ‘magnetic loop'. This is the interpretation of data collected by ESA’s XMM-Newton space telescope of the magnetar known as SGR 0418, which boasts one of the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe. In order to maintain such a strong magnetic field, the magnetar must have a twisted internal magnetic field, which manifests itself as a small region on the star’s surface, somewhat similar to the localised magnetic fields anchored in sunspots on the Sun.