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 topic
On 1 July 2012 the ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers will return to Earth and land in the steppes of Kazakhstan onboard a Soyuz capsule.
This will mark the end of "PromISSe", the 4th ESA long duration mission, and more than six months stay for the Dutch astronaut on the International Space Station.
This video recalls the different aspects of this mission with new images of the astronauts working in space.
More background information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/PromISSe/index.html