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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Alpha mission
Alpha is the name of Thomas Pesquet’s second mission (April-November 2021) on the International Space Station (ISS). During his spaceflight, the ESA astronaut performed four spacewalks, carried out more than 200 science and research activities on behalf of researchers and international partners, including 40 European experiments and 12 led by the French Space Agency, CNES. Thomas became commander of the Space Station on 4 October 2021 – the fourth time for a European to hold this position and the first time for France.
Mission Alpha
La seconde mission de Thomas Pesquet à bord de la Station spatiale internationale porte le nom Alpha. Pendant celle-ci, Thomas a effectué quatre sorties dans l’espace et mené plus de 200 activités de recherche scientifique pour le compte de chercheurs et de partenaires, dont 40 expériences européennes et 12 expériences dirigées par le CNES, l’agence spatiale française. Thomas a pris le commandement de la Station le 4 octobre 2021 ; c’est la quatrième fois qu’un Européen occupe ce poste, et la première fois pour un Français.