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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Santa delivers to the ISS!
ESA's Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli is featured in this photo, taken on 25 December 2010, with commander Scott Kelly and Cady Coleman. They are serving with Dmitri Kondratyev, Oleg Skripochka and Alexander Kaleri as crewmembers of the Expedition 26 at the International Space Station - a place orbiting the Earth, but also included in Santa's tour around the planet on Christmas 2010.