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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
Official patches have been worn by astronauts since 1965. Shaun's patch is bordered in ESA Deep Space blue, with a red inner ring representing ESA's Science and Exploration. Shaun is seen examining the Moon and his inspirational motto for this mission, 'Reach for the staaars'. The stars in the background represent all his friends on Earth.
Shaun the Sheep is flying on the Artemis I mission, the first flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with an ESA European Service Module. The spacecraft will go around the Moon and propel itself almost half a million km from Earth – farther than any human, or sheep, has travelled before. The European Service Modules will provide air, electricity and propulsion for astronauts on NASA Artemis missions.