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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ESA's Kourou Diane S-band station, also known as Kourou 93, located about 5 km West from the Ariane launch complexes (ELAs) of Europe's Spaceport, near the city of Kourou, French Guiana.
The Kourou Diane station, which features a 14.5-m-diameter antenna, is part of ESA's network of ground stations operated by the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. It provides S-band telemetry, tracking and command
support during the launch and early operations phase (LEOP) of ESA spacecraft missions.
Due to its location close to the Equator launches from Europe's Spaceport benefit from the 'slingshot effect' caused by the Earth's spin that increase the payload capability of launchers. Moreover, a wide opening on the Atlantic Ocean provides direct access to all kinds of orbit, from near equatorial to Sun synchronous, with a network of downrange tracking stations.