European Space Agency

On 30 May 1975, the ESA Convention was signed by 10 founding Member States and has since now expanded to 23 Member States, three Associate Members, one Cooperating State and Cooperation Agreements with four other EU states.

As Chief Executive Officer of ESA, Dr Aschbacher is responsible for the definition, implementation and development of Europe's space infrastructure and activities.

He is responsible for an annual budget of €8 billion and a workforce of 6000 distributed across several establishments, principally in Europe.

The ESA in its current form was founded with the ESA Convention in 1975, when ESRO was merged with ELDO.

The European Space Agency (ESA; pronounced /ˈiːsə/ EE-sə) is a 23-member international organisation devoted to space exploration.

The European Space Agency (ESA; pronounced /ˈiːsə/ EE-sə) is a 23-member international organisation devoted to space exploration.

Cassini-Huygens was a joint NASA-ESA mission, along with the Infrared Space Observatory, INTEGRAL, SOHO, and others.

Luca Salvo Parmitano (born 27 September 1976) is an Italian astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps for the European Space Agency (ESA).

Luca Salvo Parmitano (born 27 September 1976) is an Italian astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps for the European Space Agency (ESA).

Major Timothy Nigel Peake (born 7 April 1972) is a retired British European Space Agency astronaut, Army Air Corps officer and author.

Major Timothy Nigel Peake (born 7 April 1972) is a retired British European Space Agency astronaut, Army Air Corps officer and author.

Samantha Cristoforetti (Italian pronunciation: [saˈmanta kristofoˈretti]; born 26 April 1977) is an Italian European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, former Italian Air Force pilot and engineer.

Samantha Cristoforetti (Italian pronunciation: [saˈmanta kristofoˈretti]; born 26 April 1977) is an Italian European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, former Italian Air Force pilot and engineer.

Thomas Gautier Pesquet (French pronunciation: [tɔmɑ ɡotje pɛskɛ]; born 27 February 1978, is a French aerospace engineer, pilot, European Space Agency astronaut, actor, musician, and writer.

Thomas Gautier Pesquet (French pronunciation: [tɔmɑ ɡotje pɛskɛ]; born 27 February 1978, is a French aerospace engineer, pilot, European Space Agency astronaut, actor, musician, and writer.

In 1977, Merbold successfully applied to the European Space Agency (ESA) to become one of their first astronauts.

In 1977, Merbold successfully applied to the European Space Agency (ESA) to become one of their first astronauts.

Wubbo Johannes Ockels (28 March 1946-18 May 2014) was a Dutch physicist and astronaut with the European Space Agency who, in 1985, became the first Dutch citizen in space when he flew on STS-61-A as a payload specialist.

Wubbo Johannes Ockels (28 March 1946-18 May 2014) was a Dutch physicist and astronaut with the European Space Agency who, in 1985, became the first Dutch citizen in space when he flew on STS-61-A as a payload specialist.

Alexander Gerst (born 3 May 1976) is a German European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and geophysicist, who was selected in 2009 to take part in space training.

Alexander Gerst (born 3 May 1976) is a German European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and geophysicist, who was selected in 2009 to take part in space training.

The first female astronaut of the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to go to space and to visit the ISS, she later was a government minister under Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

The first female astronaut of the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to go to space and to visit the ISS, she later was a government minister under Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Andreas Enevold "Andy" Mogensen (born 2 November 1976) is a Danish engineer and ESA astronaut who is best known for being the first Dane to fly in space as part of the European Space Agency's Iriss program.

Andreas Enevold "Andy" Mogensen (born 2 November 1976) is a Danish engineer and ESA astronaut who is best known for being the first Dane to fly in space as part of the European Space Agency's Iriss program.

Marcus Wandt (born September 21, 1980) is a Swedish test pilot and member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

Marcus Wandt (born September 21, 1980) is a Swedish test pilot and member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

Arne Christer Fuglesang (born 18 March 1957) is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut.

Arne Christer Fuglesang (born 18 March 1957) is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut.

Matthias Josef Maurer (born 18 March 1970) is a German ESA astronaut and materials scientist, who was selected in 2015 to take part in space training.

Matthias Josef Maurer (born 18 March 1970) is a German ESA astronaut and materials scientist, who was selected in 2015 to take part in space training.

Major Paolo Angelo Nespoli (born 6 April 1957) is an Italian astronaut and engineer of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Major Paolo Angelo Nespoli (born 6 April 1957) is an Italian astronaut and engineer of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Thomas Arthur Reiter (born 23 May 1958 in Frankfurt, West Germany) is a retired European astronaut and is a Brigadier General in the German Air Force currently working as ESA Interagency Coordinator and Advisor to the Director General at the European Space Agency (ESA).

Thomas Arthur Reiter (born 23 May 1958 in Frankfurt, West Germany) is a retired European astronaut and is a Brigadier General in the German Air Force currently working as ESA Interagency Coordinator and Advisor to the Director General at the European Space Agency (ESA).

André Kuipers (Dutch: [ˈɑndreː ˈkœypərs] ; born 5 October 1958) is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut.

André Kuipers (Dutch: [ˈɑndreː ˈkœypərs] ; born 5 October 1958) is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut.

Frank De Winne (born 25 April 1961, in Ledeberg, Belgium) is a Belgian Air Component officer and an ESA astronaut.

Frank De Winne (born 25 April 1961, in Ledeberg, Belgium) is a Belgian Air Component officer and an ESA astronaut.

During his final spaceflight he participated in a spacewalk, becoming the first European Space Agency astronaut to do so during a Space Shuttle mission (previous ESA astronauts conducted spacewalks aboard Mir, see List of spacewalks and moonwalks 1965-1999).

During his final spaceflight he participated in a spacewalk, becoming the first European Space Agency astronaut to do so during a Space Shuttle mission (previous ESA astronauts conducted spacewalks aboard Mir, see List of spacewalks and moonwalks 1965-1999).

Michel Ange-Charles Tognini (born 30 September 1949 in Vincennes, France) is a French test pilot, engineer, brigadier general in the French Air Force, and a former CNES and ESA astronaut who served from 1 January 2005 to 1 November 2011 as head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency.

Michel Ange-Charles Tognini (born 30 September 1949 in Vincennes, France) is a French test pilot, engineer, brigadier general in the French Air Force, and a former CNES and ESA astronaut who served from 1 January 2005 to 1 November 2011 as head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency.

Léopold "Leo" Eyharts (born 28 April 1957) is a French Brigadier General in the French Air Force, an engineer and ESA astronaut.

Léopold "Leo" Eyharts (born 28 April 1957) is a French Brigadier General in the French Air Force, an engineer and ESA astronaut.

Hans Wilhelm Schlegel (Überlingen, 3 August 1951) is a German physicist, a former ESA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.

Hans Wilhelm Schlegel (Überlingen, 3 August 1951) is a German physicist, a former ESA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.

Jean-François André Clervoy (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ fʁɑ̃swa ɑ̃dʁe klɛʁvwa]; born 19 November 1958) is a French engineer and a CNES and ESA astronaut.

Jean-François André Clervoy (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ fʁɑ̃swa ɑ̃dʁe klɛʁvwa]; born 19 November 1958) is a French engineer and a CNES and ESA astronaut.

Brigadier Roberto Vittori, OMRI (born 15 October 1964, in Viterbo) is an Italian Air Force officer and an ESA astronaut.

Brigadier Roberto Vittori, OMRI (born 15 October 1964, in Viterbo) is an Italian Air Force officer and an ESA astronaut.

Philippe Perrin (Colonel, French Air Force) (born January 6, 1963) is a French test pilot, engineer and former CNES and European Space Agency astronaut.

Philippe Perrin (Colonel, French Air Force) (born January 6, 1963) is a French test pilot, engineer and former CNES and European Space Agency astronaut.

Reinhold Ewald (born 18 December 1956) is a German physicist and ESA astronaut.

Reinhold Ewald (born 18 December 1956) is a German physicist and ESA astronaut.

He was selected as a member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

He was selected as a member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

Gerhard Paul Julius Thiele (born 2 September 1953) is a German physicist and a former ESA astronaut.

Gerhard Paul Julius Thiele (born 2 September 1953) is a German physicist and a former ESA astronaut.

Maurizio Cheli (born 4 May 1959) is an Italian air force officer, a European Space Agency astronaut and a veteran of one NASA Space Shuttle mission.

Maurizio Cheli (born 4 May 1959) is an Italian air force officer, a European Space Agency astronaut and a veteran of one NASA Space Shuttle mission.

Marianne Merchez (born 25 October 1960 in Uccle) is a Belgian doctor from the Catholic University of Louvain and a former European Space Agency astronaut.

Marianne Merchez (born 25 October 1960 in Uccle) is a Belgian doctor from the Catholic University of Louvain and a former European Space Agency astronaut.

He was selected as a member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

He was selected as a member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group.

She is part of ESA's European Astronaut Corps.

She is part of ESA's European Astronaut Corps.

In November 2022, he was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a full astronaut in the class of 2022 and it was in April 2024 when he graduated as such.

In November 2022, he was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a full astronaut in the class of 2022 and it was in April 2024 when he graduated as such.

Sara García Alonso (born 1989) is a Spanish cancer researcher and reserve ESA astronaut.

Sara García Alonso (born 1989) is a Spanish cancer researcher and reserve ESA astronaut.

Umberto Guidoni (born 18 August 1954 in Rome) is an Italian astrophysicist, science writer and a former ESA astronaut, being the first European to visit the International Space Station.

Umberto Guidoni (born 18 August 1954 in Rome) is an Italian astrophysicist, science writer and a former ESA astronaut, being the first European to visit the International Space Station.

Ulysses was a joint venture of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), under leadership of ESA with participation from Canada's National Research Council.

Ulysses was a joint venture of the European Space Agency (ESA)

SMART-1 was a European Space Agency satellite that orbited the Moon.

was a European Space Agency satellite that orbited the Moon

Venus Express (VEX) was the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency (ESA).

was the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency

A space probe built by the European Space Agency

Giotto is a European robotic spacecraft mission from the European Space Agency

developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) with a NASA contribution

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈswa.vɔʂ uzˈnaɲ.ski viɕˈɲɛf.ski]; né Uznański; born 12 April 1984) is a Polish astronaut and engineer working at the European Space Agency (ESA), formerly employed at CERN.

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈswa.vɔʂ uzˈnaɲ.ski viɕˈɲɛf.ski]; né Uznański; born 12 April 1984) is a Polish astronaut and engineer working at the European Space Agency (ESA), formerly employed at CERN.