Space telescopes and Horizon 2000

Space science missions have always been the core of satellite programmes. Other fashions have come and gone. The reliability and long lives of commercial satellites are based on conservative technology that was once daring innovation and was developed for and proved on scientific missions. Scientists always have been willing to undertake risks which would be unacceptable in other fields. The current trends in space research are reviewed with the emphasis on the ESA contribution. The missions discussed are magnetosphere missions, solar system research, and galactic and extra-galactic astrophysics