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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
The Expedition 38/39 backup crew members pose for pictures in front of a statue of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, during a tour of the city of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, 27 October 2013.
Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (left), Russian cosmonaut Max Suraev (center) and Reid Wiseman of NASA are understudies to the prime crew, Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Rick Mastracchio of NASA, who are scheduled to launch 7 November, 2013, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft from Baikonur to begin a six-month mission on the International Space Station.