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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
A rare view of the International Space Station at night taken by NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins. He Tweeted from space: “What it looks like inside ISS while we sleep. Dots near hatch point to Soyuz if emergency.”
Astronauts on the International Space Station have a very structured day, working 10 hours maximum followed by a sleep period of eight hours. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are at set times as well as relaxation periods, debriefings, times to communicate with family and friends, times for privacy and times for sports activities.
At night, the lights are turned off to promote rest. The green lights direct astronauts to the Soyuz spacecraft that would bring them back to Earth in case of an emergency.