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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On 20th July 2019, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will be launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will be his second mission to orbit.
Born in 1976, Luca Parmitano was in the Italian Air Force before joining ESA in May 2009. As a test pilot he has logged more than 2000 hours flying time on more than 40 types of aircraft.
As an ESA astronaut he was flight engineer between May and November 2013 for the Italian space agency's first long-duration mission on the ISS.