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 Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft after landing in Kazakhstan, on 6 February 2020.
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 09:12 GMT (10:12 CET) after six months in orbit. Luca conducted many scientific experiments during his second mission on the International Space Station.
This mission, known as ‘Beyond’ saw him become the third European and first ever Italian in command of the Station. He also performed four complex spacewalks to repair the particle physics instrument AMS-02, remotely operated a rock-collecting rover in the Netherlands, set the European record for most cumulative spacewalking hours and shared countless images of our planet from space.