European Space Operations Centre - History

History

Space science data handling has two aspects. Firstly, it requires the setting up of a network of tracking and telemetry stations which can receive signals from spacecraft (ESTRACK). This network comprised four stations situated in the following locations:

• Redu (Belgium)
• Fairbanks (Alaska)
• Svalbard (Norway)
• Falkland Islands

Secondly, it requires a central facility which edits and processes the information from the tracking network. The facilities at the centre, initially labelled ESDAC (European Space Data Acquisition Centre), were essentially a large mainframe computer or computers, which was made available both to its in-house staff and to visiting scientists and fellows who wished to use them to analyse and study the recovered data. ESDAC was later renamed ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre. ESOC is located in Darmstadt (Germany). After the Bannier Report it gained overall executive authority for spacecraft operation. ESOC's director also became responsible for ESRANGE and for ESTRACK.

• European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany, old main gate.

• European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, 1/2 scale mockup of XMM-Newton satellite.

• European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, entrance.