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 ESA Astronaut Corps, 2004
From left to right: (back row) Paolo Nespoli, Thomas Reiter, Christer Fuglesgang, Frank de Winne, Michel Tognini*, Hans Schlegel, Philippe Perrin*, André Kuipers, (front row) Pedro Dunque, Gerhard Thiele, Jean-François Clervoy, Umberto Guidoni*, Leopold Eyharts, Reinhold Ewald, Roberto Vottori and Claude Nicollier.
* Note:
Michel Tognini left the Corps in May 2003 to become Head of the Astronaut Division at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) at Cologne, Germany.
Philippe Perrin left the European Astronaut Corps in May 2004, he became Experimental Test Pilot with Airbus Industrie in Toulouse.
Umberto Guidoni left the Corps in June 2004.