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 Bion-6 spacecraft on display. Bion-6 was launched 14 December 1983, and carried monkeys named Abrek and Bion and several pregnant rats. It was the first U.S.S.R. orbital flight of a non-human primate. The Bion satellites were a series of biological capsules to investigate the influence of space flight on living organisms.