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 astronaut Alexander Gerst testing the Russian Sokol pressure suit he will wear in the Soyuz spacecraft when he is launched to the International Space Station in May 2014.
His six-month mission will include experiments on plasma, robotics and metals as well as educational experiments involving moving soap bubbles with sound.
Alexander will be the 14th ESA astronaut to fly in space and he will be the third German astronaut to live on the Station.