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 astronaut Jean-François Clervoy (FR) flew on the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-84, the sixth Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Mir space station, in May 1997. His crewmates were Eileen Collins, Charles Precourt, Ed Lu, Jerry Linenger, Carlos Noriega, Michael Foale and Elena Kondakova (RUS).
The STS-84 patch shows a Space Shuttle launch with Earth and Sun in the background. The names of the eight astronauts who flew on Atlantis, including the two who changed their positions on Mir for a long-duration flight, are shown in the border of the patch.
The rising sun and Greek letter Phi followed by one star represent Phase One (Shuttle-Mir) of the International Space Station programme. The six stars surrounding the word Mir in Cyrillic characters represents the sixth Shuttle-Mir docking mission.