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
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Cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy on the International Space Station welcome the new arrivals ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and his crewmates NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin.
Their voyage to the Space Station lasted six hours and is the start of a six-month mission on the Space Station. The Volare mission will see Luca involved in over 20 scientific experiments two spacecraft dockings and two spacewalks.