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 news that ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst has been assigned a new mission to the International Space Station was announced in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel by ESA Director General Jan Woerner at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany on 18 May 2016.
From left: Chairwoman of the board of German aerospace centre DLR Pascale Ehrenfreund, ESA Director General Jan Woerner, ESA astronauts Jean-François Clervoy and Alexander Gerst, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ESA astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Pedro Duque
Alexander will fulfil the role of commander during the second part of his six-month mission in 2018.
The European Astronaut Centre is a training facility and home base for all European astronauts. It is a centre of excellence for astronaut training and medical support.