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 topicArtist's impression of Cupola attached to Node 3, a module of the International Space Station - a nighttime view.
The Cupola, currently scheduled for launch in January 2009, is an observation and control tower for the ISS, with windows that will provide a panoramic view for observing and guiding operations on the outside of the Station. The pressurised module will accommodate command and control workstations and other hardware, enabling crewmembers to control the Station’s robotic arm - for attaching and assembling various Station elements - and to communicate with other crewmembers in other parts of the Station or outside during spacewalk activities. The Cupola will also be used for observational applications in the areas of Earth observation and space science