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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Taikonauts on Chinese space station Tiangong-2 greet ESA and Thomas Pesquet
This video was recorded inside the Chinese space station Tiangong-2 by ‘taikonauts’ (astronauts) Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong. The duo landed safely on Earth on 18 November after spending a month orbiting Earth. A few hours before their descent, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station.
ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight, David Parker, noted, “Human spaceflight provides many opportunities to increase international cooperation, and the interaction between the Astronaut Centre of China and the European Astronaut Centre is already creating positive experiences on which to build for the future.”
A cheesecake created by French chef Alain Duchasse for Thomas Pesquet’s six-month mission on the International Space Station was sent to the Chinese astronauts.
Taikonaut Ye Guangfu, who trained with the astronauts in this video, took part in ESA’s underground course this summer.