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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The Soyuz TMA-15 crew, (left to right) Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, leave the Cosmonaut Hotel at Baikonur Cosmodrome on 27 May 2009. They are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station at 12:34 CEST. Their arrival at the ISS on 29 May 2009 will increase the size of the Station's permanent crew to six for the first time.