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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NASA astronaut Nicholas Patrick, STS-130 mission specialist, in his mission's third and last spacewalk to build and maintain the International Space Station on 17 February 2010. During the five-hour, 48-minute spacewalk, Patrick and astronaut Robert Behnken removed the insulation blankets and launch restraint bolts from each of the Cupola observatory's seven windows.