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 Paolo Nespoli (IT) was launched on the Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft to the International Space Station, on 28 July 2017 and as part of Expedition 52/53, with Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Ryazansky and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik. Expedition 52 begins with the scheduled undocking of Soyuz MS-03 in May 2017. The three new crew members (Paolo and his two Expedition 52 colleagues) will arrive shortly thereafter on Soyuz MS-05, joining the rest of Expedition 52 on the Station, NASA astronaut Jack Fischer and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, as well as NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson staying on after Expeditions 50 and 51. Designed by Luc van den Abeelen together with Fyodor Yurchikhin.