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
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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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Arc'hanmael Gaillard, one of four final candidates selected to participate in the 105-day Mars500 study.
On 11 December 2008, the final four Europeans who are set to take part in a simulated Mars mission were presented to the media at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France.
After completing a two-month period of training for their mission, two of the group will be chosen as prime crew to join four Russian-selected crewmembers inside the specially designed isolation facility in Moscow. For 105 days, as part of a cooperative project between ESA's Directorate of Human Spaceflight and the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP), the six-strong crew will live, eat, sleep and work in the recently refurbished facility. During this time they will experience elements of a simulated Mars mission.
Their stay is in preparation for the full Mars500 study due to start later in 2009, which will see another six-member crew sealed in the chamber to experience a complete 520-day Mars mission. The purpose of the Mars500 study is to gather data, knowledge and experience to help prepare one day for a real mission to Mars.