Terms and conditions

The Web Portal of the European Space Agency (ESA) presents news, information and the latest imagery and videos on ESA activities to a broad spectrum of people interested in space and space activities.

The Web Portal offers the general public the possibility to learn all about ESA and our activities, as well as specialised content for Media and for Educators.  It also serves as a channel to link visitors to ESA’s more specialised scientific and technical sites, which are of interest to various space-related communities.

Access to the ESA Web Portal is provided from Frascati, Italy.

Disclaimer

Access to, and use of, the ESA website constitutes acceptance of the following general terms and conditions.

Neither ESA nor any other party involved in creating, producing or delivering the website shall be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect or punitive damages arising out of Users’ access to, or use of, the website. The Web Portal does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided by external sources and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such data.

Though ESA uses the best technical standards to control its site, material on this website may inadvertently include technical inaccuracies or other errors. We should be grateful if users could notify us of any errors or inaccuracies they may find. Please note that users browse and use the website at their own risk. ESA does not warrant that the functional aspects of the website will be uninterrupted or error free or that this website, or the server that makes it available, are free of viruses or other harmful components. ESA may change material on the site without prior notice.

Access and availability of service and links

The ESA site may contain links and references to third-party websites. These are provided for the convenience and interest of users and on the part of ESA this implies neither responsibility for, nor approval of, information contained in these websites. ESA makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, availability or content of information, text, graphics which are not under the ‘esa.int’ domain. ESA has not tested any software located on other sites and does not make any representation as to the quality, safety, reliability or suitability of such software.

Personal data privacy

By accessing the ESA website, certain information about users, such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, navigation through the site, software used and time spent, as well as other similar information, will be stored on ESA servers. These will not specifically identify users and the information will be used internally for website traffic analysis only. If users provide unique identifying information, such as name, address and other information on forms stored on this site, this information will be used for statistical purposes only and will not be published or made available for general access.

ESA does not sell or rent its website users’ names, addresses, email addresses or other personal information.

Use of IP address

The IP address is a number that is automatically given to your computer when you are surfing on the internet. Servers that host web pages, automatically identify your computer through its IP number. ESA uses IP addresses in order to carry out statistics, however, as IP addresses and personal identification are not linked to each other users remains anonymous.

Use of cookies

Cookies are pieces of information that a website transfers to an individual hard drive for record-keeping purposes; passwords are not saved in cookies. Cookies help ESA to know which pages are visited most often and helps ESA to ensure that its website responds to users’ needs.

If you do not wish to receive a cookie, or if you wish your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, you may use the option on your web browser to disable cookies. Click on the ‘help’ section of your browser to learn how to change cookie preferences. However, please note that if you disable all cookies you may not be able to take advantage of all the features available on this website.

ESA does not use personal identification details transferred through cookies either for promotion or marketing purposes, nor will such information be shared with a third party.

Forums and blogs

From time to time the ESA website contains forums and blogs or other services enabling posts and commenting (collectively termed ‘forums’). Users agree to use forums only to send and receive messages and materials that are strictly related to the particular forum. When using an ESA forum users agree not to do any of the following:

  • Users may not download, distribute or otherwise publish through the ESA website any content which is libellous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive or in any way violates any laws.
  • Forums are for non-commercial use only. Users should not distribute or otherwise publish any material containing any solicitation for funding, advertising or solicitation for goods or services without requesting and receiving prior written approval from ESA.
  • Users shall not delete any author attributions, legal notices, proprietary designations or labels from any file that is downloaded nor falsify the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is downloaded.

ESA does not and cannot review every message posted by users on forums and is not responsible for the content of any messages posted. ESA reserves the right to delete, move or edit, at its sole discretion, messages that it deems abusive, defamatory, obscene, in violation of copyright laws or unacceptable. Users shall remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Users acknowledge that any submissions may be edited, removed, modified, published, transmitted and displayed by ESA.

Users should be aware that all forums and discussion groups are public and not private communications. Further, users acknowledge that chats, postings, conferences and any other form of communication by other users are not endorsed by ESA, and that such communications shall not be considered as having been reviewed, screened or approved by ESA.

Children’s privacy

ESA encourages parents or guardians to stay with children under 13 when the children are online and to participate in any interactive activities offered on the website. ESA will not process any personal data of a child under 13 without the previous consent of a parent, guardian, teacher or other person exercising control of the child. No personal data or information will be used for promotional or marketing purposes.

Copyrights

The contents of the ESA Web Portal are intended for the personal and non-commercial use of its users. ESA grants permission to users to visit the site, and to download and copy information, images, documents and materials from the website for users’ personal non-commercial use. ESA does not grant the right to resell or redistribute any information, documents, images or material from its website or to compile or create derivative works from material on its website. Use of material on the website is subject to the terms and conditions outlined below.

All material published on the ESA Web Portal is protected by copyright and owned or controlled by ESA or the party credited as the provider of the content, software or other material.

Users may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display or in any way exploit any of the content, software, material or services, in whole or in part, without obtaining prior written authorisation.

Use of ESA logo

The ESA logo is owned by ESA and protected by trademarks and under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. You may not modify or create derivatives of the ESA logo. Any use, reproduction, publication, display, transmission, making available to the public or exploitation of the ESA logo requires prior written authorisation. For authorisation, please contact: corporatedesign @ esa.int