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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The 'Rocket Science' exhibition shows what an appetising menu might look like if astronauts could grow their own fresh vegetables and learn about MELiSSA, a closed-loop ecological life-support system which relies on the abilities of plants
through photosynthesis to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the cabin for the crew to breathe.
MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) has been conceived as a micro-organisms and higher plants based ecosystem intended as a tool to gain understanding of the behaviour of artificial ecosystems, and for the development of the technology for a future regenerative life-support system for long-duration manned space missions - for example: a lunar base or a mission to Mars.
Find out more on MELiSSA here.