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 Director general Jan Wörner and David Parker, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration hand over the overall prize to the Space Sustain team for their idea “Plant Germination during Spaceflight to Test for the Adaptability of Crops in long-term Space Missions”. ESA astronaut Matthias Mauer contributed to the proposal.
The Space Exploration Masters awarded disruptive ideas with prizes worth more than €500 000. Europe’s first and only space exploration competition welcomed new players to boost business and innovation beyond Earth’s orbit.
The prizes were handed over at NewSpace Europe, an event focused on space industry and the economic opportunity of space held on 16 November, 2017 in Luxembourg.