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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ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst sawing a stuck bolt used to secure the Electromagnetic Levitator hardware for launch. Alexander managed to saw the bolt out, cleverly using shaving foam to keep any metal debris from floating free.
The Electromagnetic Levitator is a furnace that can heat metals up to 2100°C and then cool them rapidly. Observing liquid metals cooling in weightlessness helps to reveal the core processes of physics. The levitator takes things a step further and suspends the metals in mid-air as they melt and solidify.
Follow Alexander and his mission via http://alexandergerst.esa.int