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 NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 21 mission began on 21 July 2016, as an international crew of aquanauts splashed down to the undersea Aquarius Reef Base, 20 m below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida Keys. The NEEMO 21 crew performed research inside and outside the habitat during a 16-day simulated space mission. During simulated spacewalks underwater, they evaluated tools and mission operation techniques that could be used in future space missions. Inside the habitat, the crew tested a DNA sequencer, a medical telemetry device and a head-up display.
Clockwise from top: Matthias Maurer (ESA), Marc O Griofa (Teloregen/VEGA/AirDocs), NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Dawn Kernagis (Institute for Human & Machine Cognition), and Noel Du Toit (Naval Postgraduate School). Inside the Aquarius habitat are Florida International University Habitat Technicians Hank Stark (left) and Sean Moore (right).