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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Early image of ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano back on Earth following his six-month Beyond mission on the International Space Station.
Beyond was Luca's second mission and he returned to Earth in a Russian Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft alongside NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Russian Soyuz commander Alexander Skvortsov. The trio touched down in the Kazakh Steppe at 09:12 GMT (10:12 CET) as scheduled and Luca will now return to Cologne, Germany where he will be supported by ESA experts through a comprehensive programme of science and rehabilitation.