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 reading a book at the Cupola of the International Space Station.
Thomas shared this image on his social media channels with the caption: "Just like pretty much everyone, I happen to have read some classics of science fiction, even though I am by far and wide not obsessed by it. I read the book Dune as a teenager and took a copy to space. The similarities are astounding, water is endlessly recycled and a scarce resource, for us here in space just like for them on their planet in the book, and on a spacewalk we are practically wearing a stillsuit (their fictional spacesuit), or at least it is close to how I imagined it when I read the book. I look at the dunes dotted around Earth and think the world Frank Herbert created could very well look like the Sahara."
Follow Thomas and his Mission Alpha on his blog.