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 Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 38 backup crew members Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Max Suraev (center) and NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator 18 October, 2013 as they participate in qualification exam simulations.
They are backing up the prime crew members, NASA Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who are scheduled to launch on 7 November 2013, local time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.