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 unpiloted Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) approaches the International Space Station. Once the HTV was in range, NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk and ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, Expedition 20 flight engineers, used the Station's robotic arm Canadarm2 (bottom right) to grab the cargo craft and attach it to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony node. The attachment was completed at 00:26 CEST on 18 September 2009. The Japanese space laboratory Kibo is at the top of this image.