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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Touch me experiment floating
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer working on the ‘Touching Surfaces’ experiment from the German Aerospace Center, DLR. “It consists of differently structured touch panels made of steel, copper and brass, and every time I leave my fingerprint I also transfer my own microorganisms. Scientists on the ground can analyse where the microbes accumulate and develop new types of antimicrobial surfaces”.
Schwebendes Experiment zum Anfassen
ESA-Astronaut Matthias Maurer arbeitet am “Touching Surfaces”-Experiment des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR. “Es besteht aus unterschiedlich strukturierten Oberflächen aus Stahl, Kupfer und Messing, und jedes Mal, wenn ich meinen Fingerabdruck hinterlasse, übertrage ich auch meine Mikroorganismen. Die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler auf der Erde können analysieren, wo sich die Mikroben ansammeln und neue Arten von antimikrobiellen Oberflächen entwickeln”.
Text: Matthias Maurer