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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The STS-88 shuttle mission involved the joining of the first two elements of the International Space Station - the Russian Zarya module and the American node Unity. On December 10th, 1998, Russian cosmonaut /mission specialist Sergei Krikalev and mission commander Robert Cabana opened the hatch between Endeavour and the first element of the International Space Station.
This post-flight summary contains the following images: Proton rocket rolled out and raised upright, launch of Zarya; Unity mission crew leave operations and checkout building, shuttle [Endeavour] night launch, flight, SRB separation [including view from inside flight deck]; external tank falls over Pyrenees; opening of payload bay doors, testing of robotic arm, closing of snares; extraction of Unity from payload bay, docked with shuttle; approach of Zarya, grapple [exterior views, interior views, view through camera]; Zarya and Unity mated; astronauts suit up and pass into airlock; exterior view of hatch opening, astronauts pass into payload.