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 Alexander Gerst (left), Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronaut Terry Virts (center in blue) during training at JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), Japan, on 3 March 2014.
As part of the International Space Station project, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo was developed and tested at TKSC. At Tsukuba the astronauts training covers experiments which take place inside the JEM.
Alexander Gerst is flight engineer for Expedition 40/41, which will be launched to the International Space Station in May 2014 on a long-duration mission to run science experiments and maintain humankind’s space base.
Samantha Cristoforetti is assigned to fly on the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to the International Space Station, scheduled for November 2014 and as part of Expedition 42/43.