On the ground
Altel, an Alenia Spazio-Telespazio consortium, is carrying out the implementation and operation of Artemis' ground segment.
The ground facilities are centred around Telespazio's Space Centre in Fucino, Italy, which acts as the main control centre, and ESA's Redu-based network station, which plans the mission and interfaces with Artemis users. Another four smaller ground stations, in Kourou, Perth, Malindi and Goldstone, as well as a number of test and monitoring stations complete the ground network.
Intensive preparations were carried out to verify the systems during the last couple of years before launch. As the July launch date approached, 50 engineers were dedicated to the Launch and Early Orbit Operations (LEOP).
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