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!
The fifth and final Automated Trasnfer Vehicle, Georges Lemaître, as it burns up harmlessly in a controlled reentry over the Pacific Ocean.
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on the International Space Station took this picture and commented: "Good bye ATV-5! Arrivederci ATV-5!"
This last ATV, Georges Lemaître, set the record for the heaviest Ariane 5 launch when it climbed into space from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 29 July 2014.
It delivered 6.6 tonnes of supplies,including food, water, fuel, clothes and experiment hardware.
The versatile spacecraft also raised the Station’s orbit and moved it out of the way of space debris.
Before undocking, astronauts loaded it with waste material, freeing up space on the weightless research centre.