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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A timelapse video by European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake taken during his six-month Principia mission on the International Space Station.
The International Space Station travels at 28 800 km/h meaning that it only takes 90 minutes to circle Earth completely. Each orbit the Station moves around 2200 km to the West in relation to 90 minutes before.
Astronauts use normal consumer digital cameras to take pictures in their spare time. Setting the camera to take an image every few seconds and then playing the images back quickly creates this timelapse effect.
The British astronaut commented on this timelapse: "A timelapse flight over UK and Northern Europe. I try to wave every time I can"
More about the Principia mission: http://www.esa.int/Principia
Follow Tim Peake via http://timpeake.esa.int