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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At 22:48 GMT (00:48 CEST) on Saturday 20 July the Russian Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft carrying ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, NASA astronaut Drew Morgan and Roscosmos commander Alexander Skvortsov docked to the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station.
During their six-hour journey to the Space Station, the trio orbited Earth four times. Their arrival brings the Station’s population to six, with NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexy Ovchinin already living and working onboard.
Throughout his six-month Beyond mission, Luca will support more than 50 European experiments and over 200 international experiments in microgravity.
In the latter part of his mission, Luca will take up the role of Space Station commander. He is also expected to participate in a series of spacewalks to repair the cooling systems of dark matter hunter, AMS-02.
Follow Luca and the Beyond mission via http://lucaparmitano.esa.int/ and visit the blog for regular updates.