CADMOS

France's space agency CNES User Support and Operation Centre CADMOS.

USOCs are distributed throughout Europe. These centres are responsible for using and implementing European payloads on the International Space Station.

On behalf of Station users and under ESA management, USOCs prepare and operate facilities for experiments on board the Station. The USOCs act as the link between the user and the Space Station, and are the focal points for the preparation and operation of ESA payloads.

Before experiments are launched, USOCs develop procedures for experiments, optimise and calibrate payloads and experiments, and support training activities for astronauts.

Once the payloads are in orbit, the USOCs, with support from the Columbus Ccontrol centre, operate the payloads for which they are responsible and receive data on the experiments being performed.

In addition, USOCs interact with the scientists by providing them with data on the experiments, receiving and processing requests for scheduling experiments and providing information and instructions regarding the experiments being carried out.

Although each USOC has a different role depending on the technical and operational responsibilities assigned to them, all USOCs act as information centres for national users. They identify potential users and familiarise them with the possibilities that the International Space Station provides for scientific and commercial use.