European Space Operations Centre (ESOC)

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is the European Space Agency’s main hub for controlling and managing satellites and spacecraft. Located in Darmstadt, Germany, ESOC monitors spacecraft in orbit, communicates with them, and ensures their missions run smoothly. It handles navigation, data collection, and mission planning, supporting scientific research, telecommunications, and Earth observation. ESOC acts as the brain behind Europe's space missions, providing critical support from launch to end-of-mission operations, ensuring space assets operate safely and effectively for scientific, commercial, and security purposes.