The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC)

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is a key facility of the European Space Agency responsible for managing and controlling satellites and space missions. Located in Darmstadt, Germany, ESOC monitors spacecrafts, plans and executes mission operations, and ensures their safe functioning from launch to end of mission. It handles tasks like tracking satellite positions, transmitting commands, and collecting data. Essentially, ESOC acts as the ground-based nerve center that keeps European space missions running smoothly, enabling scientific research, Earth observation, and communication technologies critical for both scientific and practical applications.