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 Gerhard Thiele (DE) flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-99 mission in February 2000. This was the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), dedicated to the first, 3D digital mapping of Earth's surface on a near-global scale.
Thiele spent 11 days in space with fellow crewmembers Kevin Kregel, Dominic Gorie, Janet Kavandi, Janice Voss and Mamoru Mohri.
The patch was designed by the crew and depicts the Space Shuttle Endeavour orbiting Earth with many stars visible. The rainbow along Earth's horizon resembles an orbital sunrise. The crew believed the bright colours of the rainbow as symbolic of the bright future ahead because of humans venturing into space.
The clear portion of Earth illustrates the radar beams penetrating its cloudy atmosphere and the unique understanding of our home planet that is provided by space travel. The grid on Earth reflects the mapping aspect of the SRTM mission.