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 working on Oral Biofilms aboard the International Space Station.
Thomas shared this image on his social media channels with the caption: "Working on the Oral Biofilms experiment (pictures by Megan). Researchers are investigating bacteria and how they form biofilms, and how they adapt to weightlessness. We use the glovebox to keep the experiment fluids contained. We don't want them floating around the space station, thank you! However the bacteria in question grow naturally in our mouths, the research is interested in finding out more about the biofilms that grow on our tongues or teeth. Will they still grow as well in space, and can we find ways to stop them?"
Follow Thomas and his Mission Alpha on his blog.