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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Experienced Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Volkov commanded Soyuz TMA-18M on its trip to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
Born in 1973, this third trip will see him spending over a year on the Space Station in total. He has also performed three spacewalks. His impressive career is perhaps not that surprising: he is a second-generation astronaut. His father, Alexander Volkov, was a cosmonaut and spent 391 days in space, a record his son is set to beat after this flight.