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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It's L-3 days. The big Soyuz launcher, that lofted Catherine Coleman, Dimitri Kondratyev and Paolo Nespoli to space on 15 December 2010, was transported to the launch pad on Monday 13 in Baikonur. According to tradition, the launcher was rolled out at 7:00 in morning and after that it was transported along the railway to the launch pad about five kilometres away. The pad is the same used to launch Yuri Gagarin to space almost 50 years ago.
Paolo Nespoli, ESA's Italian astronaut, will serve as flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) for Expeditions 26 and 27.
Paolo’s MagISStra mission is Europe’s third long-duration mission on the ISS.