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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NASA astronaut Kayla Barron reopens the door to ESA's Columbus module, after two days and nights of the Space Station's side modules being closed as a precautionary measure against space debris.
Matthias posted this image to social media on 18 November 2021 with the caption: "NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron reopening the hatch of ESA's science laboratory Columbus after two days and nights of the side modules being closed as a precaution against space debris. This also marked the end of our slumber party in Node 2, as I go back to sleeping in my CASA crew quarters in Columbus In the second picture, you can see the four crew quarters of my NASA Astronauts colleagues in the foreground, with my temporary diagonal 'bed' at the back. Orientation doesn't matter in space – I slept beautifully."