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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Timelapse video made during ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet’s second mission to the International Space Station, “Alpha”. It shows NASA astronaut Megan McArthure and Shane Kimbrough storing a spacesuit in ESA’s Columbus module.
Thomas shared this video on social media with the caption:
“What looks like the attic of Columbus is actually my future crew quarter, the CASA. It was built and sent to space in record time, but I haven't moved in yet because we need to work on the acoustics and ventilation. It’s very minimalistic compared to a real crew quarters, and for now we use it as storage: here we were putting away an entire spacesuit Stowage space is what we miss the most of on the Space Station… I think we should probably Marie Kondo the space station… Does this spacesuit bring me joy?”
Over 200 experiments are planned during Thomas’ time in space, with 40 European ones and 12 new experiments led by the French space agency CNES.
Latest updates on the Alpha mission can be found via @esaspaceflight on Twitter, with more details on ESA’s exploration blog via thomaspesquet.esa.int.
Background information on the Alpha mission is available at www.esa.int/MissionAlpha with a brochure at www.esa.int/AlphaBrochure.