#SpaceStation20th​ messages from astronauts

On 19 April, 2001, Umberto Guidoni was launched to the International Space Station, becoming the first European astronaut on board. In April 2021, ESA celebrates 20 years of European astronaut missions to this unique orbital outpost. In this video, ESA astronauts past and present share their experiences of the International Space Station and spaceflight more generally. They identify some of their favourite moments and voice their hopes for the future of space exploration.

The International Space Station is humankind’s science laboratory in space. Its unique microgravity environment enables researchers to study phenomena and carry out experiments that would not be possible on Earth. Around 400 ESA investigations have been performed since the first module was launched and thousands more are led by the four other space agencies that work together to keep the Space Station aloft: NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos, Japan’s JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency.

Scientific discoveries made on Station are applied widely from health to metallurgy, while the increased knowledge we gain about our solar system helps build a deeper understanding of Earth and life itself.