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 topicFrank De Winne training in Japan Format 16:9 This is an overview of the Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winnes training with the Japanese Space Agency, JAXA, in Tsukuba. Frank is currently scheduled to fly to the ISS in May 2009, along with the Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk and the Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov. The video features interviews in Tsukuba with Frank De Winne, the Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers (wholl be acting as his backup) and Robert Thirsk, plus coverage of their training in Japan.