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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The Director General of ESA, Antonio Rodota, together with the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade, Gerrit Ybema, announced Europe's newest astronaut, Andre Kuipers, on 5 October 1998 at the Space Expo in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Kuipers, a medical doctor from Amsterdam and celebrating his 40th birthday that day, joined the other 12 astronauts who comprise the European corps. He will begin training around mid-1999 to qualify for future missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The photograph shows (from left) [Image Date: 05-10-98] [98.10.001-016]