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 is cooperating with NASA in the development of a family of lifting body vehicles for crew return and ultimately for crew transfer, and as a first step in the design of the X-38 orbital flight test vehicles. Major elements of ESA's parafoil based descent and landing system are considered to be excellent candidates for early cooperation within the X-38 programme.