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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
From left: ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, Roscosmos cosmonaut Max Suraev and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman in their Soyuz spacecraft that will fly them back to Earth after almost six months on the International Space Station.
They tested their Sokol suits and spacecraft a week before their return on 10 November 2014.
Alexander Gerst commented on this image five days before leaving the weightless research laboratory: “R-5: Leak check passed. The Soyuz TMA-13M crew is ready for the flight home after a very successful ISS Expedition.”
Follow Alexander Gerst via alexandergerst.esa.int