ESOC – „Europe’s Gateway to Space“

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is the  European Space Agency’s satellite control centre. Its mandate is to conduct mission operations for ESA satellites ranging from Earth observation to astronomy, solar system exploration and navigation. ESOC has a unique expertise in Europe in the fields of operations, mission control software, flight dynamics and telecommunications, in­­clud­ing a specialised infrastructure. The Centre’s cooperation with European in­­dustry further increases its worldwide competitiveness. Future-oriented technologies such as optical communication are currently being developed.

ESOC also operates ESA’s worldwide network of ground stations. In cooperation with the ground stations of international partners, it offers support for any type of mission. To date, ESOC has operated more than 60 ESA satellites and supported 50 missions of other organisations. The Centre can simultaneously operate over 15 spacecraft in parallel in routine phase as well as additional satellites in their critical launch and early orbit phase and, if required, carry out satellite recovery operations.