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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This week one year ago, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen (left) spent 10 days in space on his ‘iriss’ mission to the International Space Station. He was launched on 2 September 2015 in a Soyuz spacecraft with cosmonaut commander Sergei Volkov (right) and returned in a different Soyuz with commander Gennadi Padalka. Sergei stayed on to complete his third six-month stay on the Space Station.
Andreas and Sergei unveiled a bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, exactly a year after their own launch. The event commemorated Gagarin’s visit to Denmark 54 years ago during his tour of Europe after his landmark orbit of Earth on 12 April 1961.
The bust is at the Danish Technical University near Copenhagen, Denmark. The university participated in a number of experiments on the International Space Station, including Andreas imaging a newly discovered weather phenomenon.