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
Go to topicA short history of ESA's Orbital Test Satellite (OTS). Launched in 1978, OTS was Europe's first multinational telecommunications satellite. At the time of this film's production, OTS had been in orbit for 10 years. Subsequent telecommunications systems are outlined.
begin
00:02:24:00 ESA opening sequence
00:02:45:00 title sequence: OTS - Ten Years After
00:02:59:00 mcs interview: John MacLaughlan, Station Director, Redu, Belgium
00:03:20:00 animation Earth with communication satellites
00:03:36:00 heli gvs' large ground stations
00:03:56:00 gvs' satellite construction
00:04:06:00 cs castle, zo to incl mls small ground station to r
00:04:18:00 gvs' ESRO board meetings
00:04:25:00 ms Orbital Test Satellite [OTS]
00:04:31:00 ms pan r opening of solar array in cleanroom
00:04:43:00 ms zo solar array opens to cam
00:04:47:00 gvs' OTS construction [including rotation, vibration testing]
00:05:08:00 var news clippings OTS failure, 1977 footage of failure
00:05:25:00 ms pan up Thor Delta launch of OTS
00:05:41:00 animations OTS, communications systems
00:05:56:00 gvs' ground station construction [including dishes, Telespazzio sign, helicopters, workers]
00:06:37:00 var stills ground stations
00:06:50:00 gvs'/stills telecommunications [satellite dishes, Eiffel T