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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STS-122 and Expedition 16 crews pose inside Columbus. Front row from left: NASA astronauts Stephen Frick and Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander.
Second row from left: NASA astroanut Daniel Tani, ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, flight engineer, and Russia's Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer and Soyuz commander.
Whitson and Malenchenko are two veterans of previous International Space Station flights.
Back row from left: NASA astronauts Stanley Love, ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel and NASA astronauts Leland Melvin (back), Rex Walheim and Alan Poindexter.
ISS Expedition 16 crew will play an important role in monitoring manoeuvres during the ATV rendezvous with the International Space Station.
ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts will stay on board ISS for two months as a member of the Expedition 16 crew.