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 running on the International Space Station as part of every astronaut's 90-minute exercise routine. In microgravity astronaut's bones and muscles waste away. An effective way of counteracting this is by keeping fit, however floating in weightlessness makes running difficult. Elastic bands keep Alexander in place and push his body down on the treadmill.
The International Space Station circles our planet at 28 000 km/h, 400 km high.
Alexander Tweeted this image with the text: "Just ran 16 300 km on the treadmill (35 minutes at 28 000 km/h"
Read more about his mission at http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Blue_dot
Follow Alexander here: http://alexandergerst.esa.int/