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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Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko has visited both the International Space Station and the former Russian Mir space station, flying in the Soyuz spacecraft and NASA’s Space Shuttle. He has conducted five spacewalks, making him an extremely experienced cosmonaut. Yuri is the first person to get married while in space – his wife Ekaterina was on Earth when they signed the documents.
Yuri’s first spaceflight was aboard Soyuz TM-19; now, more than 20 years later, he flies with Tim and NASA astronaut Tim Kopra on Soyuz TMA-19M, an upgraded model of the same spacecraft series.