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 22 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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Take a night flight across Africa and the Mediterranean with this timelapse footage captured by ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during his Beyond mission on the International Space Station. Images in this timelapse were taken on 13 September 2019 at a rate of two per second.
Luca was launched to the International Space Station on 20 July 2019. He will serve as the third European and first ever Italian in command of the International Space Station from 2 October 2019 until he returns to Earth in February 2020.