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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ESA astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy training for an underwater simulated mission, dubbed ‘Apollo 11 Under the Sea’, supported by French deep-diving specialists Comex. Lunar gravity can be simulated by adjusting the astronaut’s buoyancy – our Moon has a sixth of the gravity we feel on Earth.
A mockup spacesuit, based on Russia’s Orlan suit as used on the International Space Station, increases the fidelity of these simulations. The mockup restricts movements as a real pressure suit would and has exactly the right amount of buoyancy to let Jean-Francois feel partial gravity.