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 past and present attending the ESTEC Open Day on Sunday 6 October 2013: from left to right, Reinhold Ewald, André Kuipers and Ulf Merbold during the event's opening ceremony. Speaking later in the day, they shared their experiences of flying on Mir, the International Space Station and the Shuttle's Spacelab respectively. Ulf Merbold is the very first ESA astronaut to fly in space, three decades ago this year.