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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Expedition 50 astronauts portrait with mission patch. From left: cosmonaut Andrei Borisenko, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky.
Expedition 50 to the International Space Station begins with the departure of Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft in October 2016. When Thomas, Oleg and arrive at the Space Station in November on Soyuz MS-03 they will join the second part of Expedition 50.