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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ISS020-E-043924 (2 Oct. 2009) --- The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, Expedition 21 flight engineer; Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, Soyuz commander and flight engineer; and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte. Williams and Suraev will spend six months on the station, while Laliberte will return to Earth on Oct. 10 with two of the Expedition 20 crew members currently on the complex. Docking to the Zvezda Service Module aft port occurred at 3:35 a.m. (CDT) on Oct. 2, 2009.