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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Columbus Flight Director during a scientific session with the Myotones experiment.
ESA's Columbus Control Centre, known by its call-sign Col-CC, supports the European Columbus space laboratory. It is located at the German Aerospace Center DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany.
The Control Centre is the direct link to Columbus in orbit. The centre's main functions are to command and control the European space laboratory Columbus’ systems, to coordinate operations of European payloads on the International Space Station and to operate the European ground communications network.
The Centre’s operations teams provide support seven days a week 24 hours a day.