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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At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) of Russia's Federal Space Agency and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency pose for pictures, 24 May, 2013, in front of the first stage engines of their Soyuz rocket in the Integration Facility.
The three earlier participated in the final "fit check" dress rehearsal by the prime and backup crews. Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano are preparing for launch, 29 May, 2013, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft to begin a six-month mission on the International Space Station.