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
Go to topicDutch ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers receives training for the SEEDS experiment that will be carried out during the DELTA Mission, due to take place in April 2004. SEEDS insan experiment whereby Kuipers will grow rocket in a specially designed box. Inside the box there are two compartments - one with light and one without. The seeds will be given water at exactly the same time. Children in the Netherlands will participate in the experiment by planting their own seeds in a SEEDS box, and comparing their results to those grown in space and help to understand the influence of gravity and light on the growth of plants (February 2004)