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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Interview with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, on Monday 11 November, shortly after landing in the Kazakhstan steppe.
Luca, together with Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, landed at 02:49 GMT (03:49 CET), in the same Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft that flew them to the International Space Station on 29 May.
Luca spent five months on the International Space Station for his Volare mission under a bilateral agreement with the Italian space agency and NASA. He conducted more than 30 scientific experiments, performed two extravehicular activities (EVAs) and operational tasks as well as maintaining the orbital outpost. More on the Volare mission at: www.esa.int/volare