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 second Multi-Purpose Pressurised Module (MPLM) is seen almost completed in the cleanroom facilities of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. Raffaello was delivered to NASAs Kennedy Space Center on 4 August 1999 by air direct from Turin, to begin processing for its first mission in mid-2000. The first MPLM, Leonardo, has been at KSC since August 1998. The third and final unit, Donatello, will be delivered in late 2000. The MPLM will be carried in the Space Shuttles cargo bay, delivering up to 9 tonnes of cargo to the International Space Station and returning experiment results to Earth. MPLM is a project of the Italian Space Agency, but ESA has provided the modules Environmental Control & Life Support Subsystem in exchange for using a derivative of MPLMs primary structure for the Agencys own Columbus module. [Image Date: 13-07-99] [99.07.006-008]