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 22 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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Space Shuttle Endeavour and the Unity Node-1 (bottom) dock with the Zarya module on 7 December 1998 during the STS-88 Shuttle mission. The first module of the International Space Station (ISS), the Russian-built, US-financed Zarya, was launched by a Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 20 November 1998. The Unity Node-1 module was launched aboard the Space Shuttle on 4 December 1998 as the first US element of the ISS. The Shuttle rendezvoused with Zarya on 6 December and grappled it with the Remote Manipulator System arm at 23 [Image Date: 07-12-98] [98.12.010-017]