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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The first person to make a spacewalk, Alexey Leonov (left) meets ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst shortly before Alexander’s six-month mission on the International Space Station.
Alexander performed more than 50 experiments and a spacewalk during his flight on the weightless research centre in 2014 as it circled our planet 400 km up.
Alexander worked as a geophysicist and volcanologist before he was chosen as an ESA astronaut in 2009. His mission included an extensive programme of experiments in physical science, biology and human physiology as well as radiation research and technology demonstrations. All of the research makes use of the out-of-this-world laboratory to improve life on Earth or prepare for further human exploration of our Solar System.
Follow Alexander here: http://alexandergerst.esa.int/
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