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
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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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British ESA astronaut Tim Peake will be launched to the International Space Station, from Baikonur in Kazakhstan, on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft 15 December.
One of the last hurdles before being allowed to go into space is the Soyuz exams held in Star City, Russia. Six hours of simulated spaceflight in a cramped Soyuz spacecraft while the examinators test the astronauts by programming as many malfunctions into the simulated mission as possible. ESA astronaut Tim Peake, NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander-cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko went through them all today and passed their exams.
Named after Isaac Newton’s text Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Tim’s “Principia” mission will be the eighth ESA long-duration mission to the International Space Station. He will spend five months on orbit carrying out an intensive schedule of european and international experiments, in addition to numerous educational activities.
Follow Tim and his mission via timpeake.esa.int