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 Samantha Cristoforetti, NASA astronaut Terry Virts and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov are touring Samantha’s home country of Italy after their mission on the International Space Station.
Here, Terry is demonstrating to press at an exhibition in the Milan central train station how he took Samantha’s picture as she looked out of the windows of ESA’s Italian-built Cupola observatory on the Station. The train station exhibition is a collaboration with the Italian railways Ferrovie dello Stato.
Samantha, Terry and Anton spent 199 days on the Station as part of Expeditions 42 and 43, landing back on Earth on 11 June 2015.
The tour, organised by Italy’s ASI space agency and the Italian Air Force, includes visits to schools, museums and exhibitions in Trento, Milan, Naples, Bologna and Rome.
Samantha flew to the International Space Station under an agreement between ASI and NASA. Her mission, called Futura, set a record for the longest mission for an ESA astronaut.
Read more about Futura and follow Samantha via samanthacristoforetti.esa.int.