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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John McFall, a former Paralympic athlete and orthopaedic surgeon, made history in 2022 when the European Space Agency (ESA) selected him as the first member of its Astronaut Reserve with a physical disability. This marked a significant milestone in ESA’s Fly! initiative, which aims to enable a professional astronaut with a physical disability to join as a fully integrated crewmember on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
You can find more about John and the Fly! initiative on the Fly! website.