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 Andreas Mogensen (DK) is assigned to fly on the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft to the International Space Station, scheduled for launch on 2 September 2015. He will serves as Flight Engineer with crewmates Commander Sergei Volkov and Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov will join the Expedition 45 crew, while Andreas will spend ten days aboard the orbital outpost before returning to Earth with aboard Soyuz TMA-16M with Aimbetov and cosmonaut Gennady Padalka.
The Soyuz TMA-18M insignia is shaped like the Russian patch for the joint Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, in recognition of this flight 40 years ago. The background is based on recent ISS timelapse photography, and there are various 'musical' elements, such as notes, a stave and G-clef in the centre of the patch, noting that Sarah Brightman was originally slated to fly on this mission. The patch was designed by Jorge Cartes from Madrid, Spain.