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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In the first episode of our ‘Fit for space’ training series, ESA astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano share how crewmembers prepare for their journey to the International Space Station in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Training for the critical moments of Soyuz spaceflight – launch, ascent, docking and landing – take place at Roscosmos’ Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Here, astronauts use sophisticated Soyuz simulators to practice procedures and respond to emergency situations.
The Soyuz simulators at GCTC are designed to act and be operated in exactly the same way as the spacecraft itself. Astronauts must demonstrate their proficiency in manually controlling the Soyuz to prepare for the unlikely event that automated and ground-based operations fail.
They also prepare for emergency events that could occur onboard the International Space Station itself.