ESOC – Europe’s centre of excellence for satellite operation

by Hartmut Bühl, Paris

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) control centre and Europe’s centre of excellence for satellite operations. ESOC has been responsible for the operation of all ESA satellites and the necessary global network of ground stations since 1967. To date, the centre has operationally supported over 60 ESA satellites as well as numerous missions from other national and international organisations.

Thanks to its nearly 300 employees and 600 contractors, ESOC can simultaneously control over 15 satellites at the same time and additional satellites in the early launch phase (LEOP) and carry out world-renowned rescue operations.

European Space Tracking (ESTRACK)

ESOC hosts the control centre of the worldwide network of ground stations which provides links between ESOC and the satellites in orbit. Tracking is provided through all phases of a mission, from the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) through routine operations, special manoeuvres or flybys and ultimately through deorbiting and safe disposal. Furthermore, ESTRACK can track rockets flying from Kourou in French Guiana.

This network consists of five large multi-purpose stations in Kourou (French Guiana), Perth (Australia), Redu (Belgium), Maspalomas and Villafranca (Spain) and a polar station in Kiruna (Sweden). ESA’s interplanetary missions are supported by antennas in New Norcia (Australia). Furthermore, ESA also uses ground stations in collaboration with other space organisations.

Mission preparation and execution

Mission analysis is a flight dynamics task at ESOC. The centre is responsible for determining, predicting and controlling the trajectory of a satellite as well as its orientation in space for selecting the optimal orbit. In the early planning phase of a mission, ESOC experts propose the choice of launch vehicles, the use of ground stations, the planning of complex manoeuvres and the duration of all types of missions from earth observation to astronomy and planetary science to navigation.  ESOC provides important information for the industrial consortium responsible for building the satellite, since the selected trajectory and the resulting operational concept will influence the design of a satellite.

Immediately after the satellite is separated from the launch vehicle, the ESOC main control room in the headquarters in Darmstadt takes control of it. All manoeuvres that bring the satellite into its final orbit are carried out here and the control centre is in constant contact with the entire ESA ground station network. Once the satellite has reached its routine trajectory, a dedicated sub-control room takes over control.

Looking around

Innovative technology transfer is part of the ESA business initiative. For that, an information and startup centre for satellite navigation has been established in the ESOC environment, called Centre for Satellite Applications Hessen (cesah). cesah is supported by the state of Hesse, the city of Darmstadt, the Technical University and the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences but also by large companies in the region. cesah supports young companies and startups in the development, implementation and market launch of new products and services related to satellite navigation.