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 astronauts Paolo Nespoli (left) and Roberto Vittori shake hands inside ATV-2 following an Earth-to-space phone tag-up with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. Nespoli has been on the station for over five months and returned to Earth on 24 May 2011. Vittori was on a 16-day mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, joined by five NASA astronauts. This occasion is the second time two Italian astronauts have been in space together and the first time in 15 years.