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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ATV-5 is the last in the series to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.
The fifth Automated Transfer Vehicle will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guyane.
It has been named Georges Lemaitre as a tribute to the Belgian physicist, father of the Big Bang theory.
After launch on an Ariane 5 from Kourou, ATV will automatically navigate to a precision docking with the Station’s Russian Zvezda module.
It will remain attached to the ISS for up to six months before reentering the atmosphere and deliberately burning up together with several tonnes of Station waste.