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 Tim Peake and fellow Expedition 46-47 crewmembers, NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra and Roscosmos cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko are at Baikonur Cosmodrome preparing for launch to the International Space Station on 15 December 2015.
After arriving in Baikonur on 30 November, the crew are seen visiting their Soyuz spacecraft and launcher, performing a fit-check of their Sokol spacesuits, physically preparing themselves for space, during their leisure time in quarantine and on a visit to the Baikonur museum.
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 six months on orbit carrying out an intensive schedule of European and international experiments, in addition to numerous educational activities.
Follow Tim Peake and his mission via http://timpeake.esa.int