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 inaugural launch of the Soyuz 2-1a took place successfully on Monday 8 November 2004 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
This launch marks a major step forward in the Soyuz evolution programme as this modernised version of the launcher implements a digital control system providing additional mission flexibility and enabling control of the launch vehicle with a larger fairing.
The next step will be the introduction of the Soyuz 2-1b, after being launched from Baikonur in 2006, the Sopyuz 2-1b will make its inaugural launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana in 2007.