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 astronaut Thomas Pesquet snapped this image of the Cygnus NG-15 cargo vehicle over Earth during his second long-duration mission known as Alpha. He posted it on social media saying: "So long Cygnus! Thanks for all the supplies you brought up here and thanks for clearing out the trash as you leave. Cygnus NG-15 arrived at the Station long before me on 22 February and has served as an extra module since then. Yesterday we said goodbye but packed it with waste first that will burn up on reentry, clearing some space inside the Space Station. The distinctive solar panels you might have seen in many previous images, they are now gone."
Thomas was launched to the International Space Station for his second mission, Alpha, on 23 April 2021. He will spend six months living and working on the orbital outpost where he will support more than 200 international experiments in space.
Follow Thomas and his Mission Alpha on his blog.