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 topicAfter 520 days the Mars 500 mission will end this 4 November. The hatch will be opened and the crew members will at last get out of the modules at Moscow's Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP). Since 3 June 2010 six volunteers have been locked inside a fake spaceship and simulated a journey to Mars and back.
Mars 500 is the most realistic spaceflight simulation possible without leaving the ground. This story recalls this unique experience with words from Romain Charles and Diego Urbina the two European "marsonauts".
More backgroud information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/index.html