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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ISS astronaut Soichi Noguchi shared this amazing photo via Twitter on 22 February 2010: this is the plasma trail produced by Space Shuttle Endeavour as it was returning from the ISS (after delivering Cupola, from where the photo was taken) and entered Earth‘s atmosphere with speed of Mach 25. "Space Shuttle Endeavour making S-turn during atmospheric re-entry," wrote Noguchi on Twitpic page caption @Astro_Soichi: "The first time it was photographed from Space Station Cupola. Priceless."