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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ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and his crewmates NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin ended their six-hour space voyage when they arrived at the International Space Station at 02:10 GMT on 29 May.
They were welcomed to the orbital outpost by the crew already onboard: cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy.
The Volare mission will see Luca involved in over 20 scientific experiments two spacecraft dockings and two spacewalks.