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 topicLast 24 May, ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli came back to Earth with his crewmates Dimitri Kondratiev and Cady Coleman in a Soyuz capsule landing in the desert of Kazakhstan.
This marked the end of the third ESA long duration mission aboard the International Space Station.
Launched from Baikonur last 15 December Paolo Nespoli conducted scientific experiments and participated in the very busy activities in and around the ISS, including an in-flight call with His Holiness Benedict XVI live from the Vatican.
The video recalls the past months in space for the ESA astronaut.