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 Samantha Cristoforetti inside the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) during cargo stowage activities. BEAM is an expandable habitat technology demonstration for the International Space Station. Expandable modules require minimal payload volume, but inflate after being deployed in space to provide extra room for astronauts to live and work. Their designs also provide a varying degree of protection from the hazards of space, such as solar and cosmic radiation, space debris, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation and more.
Expandable modules such as BEAM are lower-mass and lower-volume than traditional metal habitats, and can therefore increase the efficiency of cargo shipments, potentially reducing the number of launches.