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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Alexander Gerst from Germany was selected for ESA’s Astronaut Corps in May 2009.
His first spaceflight was the Blue Dot mission, lasting from May to November 2014 – during which he performed a spacewalk and oversaw the docking operations of ESA’s final Automated Transfer Vehicle.
Alexander will be the first of ESA’s ‘Class of 2009’ to make a return visit to the ISS in June 2018.