About ESA
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.
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Space in Member States
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Spain
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
The Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Czechia
Romania
United Kingdom
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Science & Exploration
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicAstronauts
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Enabling & Support
Making space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Alpha
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet's second mission to the International Space Station
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet returned to the International Space Station for a second mission called Alpha, after the star Alpha Centauri, located in the same system as Proxima.
Thomas took a new ride to space and was the first European to leave Earth on the SpaceX Crew Dragon launching from Florida, USA. The crew of four included NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, who was with Thomas on the International Space Station during his Proxima mission, as well as Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide.
Launch: 23 April 2021, 09:49:02 GMT (10:49:02 CEST)
Launch site: Florida, USA
Spacecraft: SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour
Expeditions: 65/66
Docking: 24 April 2021, 09:08 GMT (10:08 CEST)
Crewmates: NASA astronauts Megan MacArthur and Shane Kimbrough, Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide
Splashdown: 9 November 2021, 03:33 GMT (04:33 CET)
Landing site: Pensacola, Florida, USA
- 4 spacewalks
- 1st ESA Dragon rider
- 1st French commander
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Thomas Pesquet’s Alpha mission
European experiments running during Alpha
Thomas Pesquet: Biography and training
