The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The Interconnection Ground Subnetwork (IGS) control room at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC)in Germany. ESOC controls ESA satellites through the ESTRACK network of ground stations. IGS is the ground communication infrastructure which supports the European components of the International Space Station (ISS) programme: the Columbus Orbital Facility attached to ISS and the Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo carrier. The IGS testbed (a precursor of the final IGS) already provides communication services to enable researchers to perform telescience experiments aboard Space Shuttle and Mir missions remotely from their home locations in Europe.