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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Dragon-6 cargo ferry captured and about to be berthed with the International Space Station on 17 April 2015. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti controlled the 16 m-long robot arm to grab the spacecraft and pull it to the Station with NASA astronaut Terry Virts providing support.
The spacecraft brought fresh supplies and experiments to the weightless research laboratory. Samantha has been performing experiments as diverse as studying fruit flies, investigating small particles in liquids, looking at microscopic worms and growing plants.
Samantha published this image with the text: “Dragon about to become part of ISS.”
Follow Samantha via samanthacristoforetti.esa.int