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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NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 32 flight engineer, appears to touch the bright sun on her mission’s third spacewalk on 5 September 2012.
During the six-hour, 28-minute spacewalk, Sunita and Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide (visible in the reflections of Sunita’s helmet) installed a Main Bus Switching Unit and a camera on the International Space Station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2.