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 using the International Space Station’s Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) to keep fit. Astronauts need to spend up to two hours each day working out to counteract the loss of bone and muscle fibre that comes from living in space.
ARED is similar to a multifunctional weightlifting machine on Earth but, of course, weights are not much use in weightlessness. Instead, pneumatic resistance achieves the same result: exercising the muscles.