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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Full interview with ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst made for the ESTEC Open Day 2020 virtual edition. ESA Open Day at ESTEC in the Netherlands took place online in 2020. Continuing COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible to let people on site in person, but participants could still enjoy virtual tours of the extensive establishment, get unique close-up views of space hardware and interact directly with astronauts and space experts. For the ninth annual ESA Open Day at ESTEC, on Sunday 4 October, Arianna Ricchiuti in The Netherlands, interviewed Alexander Gerst at his home in Germany. Alexander recounts his time in space, talks about the environment, his expedition in Antarctica and more. The first 20 minutes of this interview were shown during the Open Day, but this video shows the full interview.