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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This self-portrait was taken by ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during his spacewalk with NASA’s Chris Cassidy on 9 July 2013.
The spacewalk, the first for Luca and the fifth for Chris, lasted 6 hours 7 minutes.
This was the first of two Expedition 36 excursions to prepare the International Space Station for a new Russian module and perform additional installations on the Station’s backbone.
The second spacewalk was held on 16 July. Luca, working with Chris again, lef the Station from the Quest airlock. The second spacewalk was cut short owing to water leaking in Luca’s spacesuit.