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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S118-E-09341 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the International Space Station appears to be very small as the Space Shuttle Endeavour departs from the Station. Endeavour's vertical stabilizer and orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods are seen in this image photographed by an STS-118 crewmember onboard the Shuttle. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 06:56 (CDT) on 19 August 2007.