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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DLR astronaut Reinhold Ewald (DE) flew to the Mir space station on Soyuz TM-25, in February 1997, with cosmonauts Vasili Tsibliyev and Alexander Lazutkin. He spent 18 days in space, performing experiments in biomedical and material sciences, and carried out operational tests in preparation for the International Space Station.
In February 1999, he joined ESA's European Astronaut Corps at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.
This patch was designed by Novosti Kosmonavtiki to cover not only Soyuz TM-25 but the entire Mir EO-23 mission (hence the '23'), which would also include US astronaut Jerry Linenger. This patch was designed by Oleg Shitikov. It had an oval form and a green background. Distribution of the patch was delayed and the patch was not worn on spacesuits. The Mir-97 logo was adopted as the official mission patch and worn on the flight Sokols during launch and landing.