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 topicThe Columbus Laboratory is Europe's major contribution to the International Space Station. Launched in February 2008, this 5:26 minute video, made prior to the launch, gives an overview of the project, including location filming a few days before Colombus left Europe in May 2006 for Florida from where it was launched on Shuttle flight STS-122, as well as interviews with the ESA Project Manager Bernardo Patti and ESA astronauts Reinhold Ewald and Thomas Reiter.