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 Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft is launched towards the International Space Station. Journeying aloft are Expedition 43 NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka. They were launched on 27 March 2015 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Scott and Mikhail will stay on the Space Station for 11 months and return to Earth in Soyuz TMA-18M in March 2016.
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and his crewmates will fly to the Station in Soyuz TMA-18M in September 2015 and return to Earth in the Soyuz TMA-16M pictured here.