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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ESA cosmonaut Jean-Pierre (FR) and Ivan Bella (SK) flew on Soyuz TM-29 to Mir in February 1999. Bella was the first Slovak citizen to fly in space. Their commander, cosmonaut Viktor Afanasyev was the only Russian aboard. Their joint Russian-French-Slovak mission lasted for 9 days.
With two foreign cosmonauts on board, neither of the national mission logos could be classified as 'official' and worn by all three cosmonauts. All three crewmemberswore the Soyuz flight patch, designed by Spaceview designer Luc van den Abeelen, on their Sokol flight suits, plus their national mission emblems.
This is the ESA/CNES Perseus mission patch.