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class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">European Space Astronomy Centre</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">ESA center specialized in space astronomy</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title fn org">European Space Astronomy Centre</caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image logo"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg/250px-Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="167" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg/375px-Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg/500px-Aerial_view_of_ESAC.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3248" data-file-height="2166" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">Aerial view of ESAC</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Abbreviation</th><td class="infobox-data nickname">ESAC</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Type</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Intergovernmental_organization" class="mw-redirect" title="Intergovernmental organization">IGO</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Location</th><td class="infobox-data label"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Villafranca_del_Castillo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Villafranca del Castillo (page does not exist)">Villafranca del Castillo</a>, <a href="/wiki/Villanueva_de_la_Ca%C3%B1ada" title="Villanueva de la Cañada">Villanueva de la Cañada</a>, Spain</li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Leader</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Carole_Mundell" title="Carole Mundell">Carole Mundell</a> (Director)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Parent organization</div></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Agency" title="European Space Agency">European Space Agency</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.esa.int/esac">www<wbr />.esa<wbr />.int<wbr />/esac</a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.6em;">Remarks</th><td class="infobox-data">ESAC is one of nine establishments operated by ESA<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>European Space Astronomy Centre</b> (<b>ESAC</b>) near <a href="/wiki/Madrid" title="Madrid">Madrid</a> in Spain is a research centre of the <a href="/wiki/European_Space_Agency" title="European Space Agency">European Space Agency</a> (ESA). ESAC is the lead institution for <a href="/wiki/Space_science" class="mw-redirect" title="Space science">space science</a> (astronomy, Solar System exploration and fundamental physics) using ESA missions. It hosts the science operation centres for all <a href="/wiki/List_of_European_Space_Agency_programmes_and_missions#Science_programmes" title="List of European Space Agency programmes and missions">ESA astronomy and planetary missions</a> and their scientific <a href="/wiki/Data_archive" class="mw-redirect" title="Data archive">data archives</a>. ESA's <a href="/wiki/Cebreros_Station" title="Cebreros Station">Cebreros Station</a> deep-space communication antennas are located nearby. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Location">Location</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Location"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ESAC is located near <a href="/w/index.php?title=Villafranca_del_Castillo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Villafranca del Castillo (page does not exist)">Villafranca del Castillo</a><span class="noprint" style="font-size:85%; font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villafranca_del_Castillo" class="extiw" title="es:Villafranca del Castillo">es</a>]</span>, within the municipal limits of <a href="/wiki/Villanueva_de_la_Ca%C3%B1ada" title="Villanueva de la Cañada">Villanueva de la Cañada</a>, is located 30 km west of Madrid in the <a href="/wiki/Guadarrama" title="Guadarrama">Guadarrama</a> Valley. The site is surrounded by <a href="/w/index.php?title=Light_woodland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Light woodland (page does not exist)">light woodland</a> and is adjacent to the ruins of the 15th-century <a href="/w/index.php?title=Aulencia_Castle&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Aulencia Castle (page does not exist)">Aulencia Castle</a><span class="noprint" style="font-size:85%; font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_Aulencia" class="extiw" title="es:Castillo de Aulencia">es</a>]</span>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Missions">Missions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Missions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg/220px-MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg/330px-MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg/440px-MADRID_060518_MXALX_007.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="680" /></a><figcaption>Control station at ESAC, in 2006</figcaption></figure> <p>Past and present missions handled from ESAC include (in alphabetical order): <a href="/wiki/Akari_(satellite)" title="Akari (satellite)">Akari</a>, <a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Cluster_II_(spacecraft)" title="Cluster II (spacecraft)">Cluster</a>, <a href="/wiki/ExoMars" title="ExoMars">Exomars</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/Gaia_mission" class="mw-redirect" title="Gaia mission">Gaia</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Herschel_Space_Observatory" title="Herschel Space Observatory">Herschel Space Observatory</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope" title="Hubble Space Telescope">Hubble Space Telescope</a>, <a href="/wiki/Infrared_Space_Observatory" title="Infrared Space Observatory">ISO</a>, <a href="/wiki/INTEGRAL" title="INTEGRAL">INTEGRAL</a>, <a href="/wiki/International_Ultraviolet_Explorer" title="International Ultraviolet Explorer">IUE</a>, <a href="/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="James Webb Space Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, <a href="/wiki/LISA_Pathfinder" title="LISA Pathfinder">LISA Pathfinder</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">Mars Express</a>, <a href="/wiki/Planck_satellite" class="mw-redirect" title="Planck satellite">Planck</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Solar_and_Heliospheric_Observatory" title="Solar and Heliospheric Observatory">SOHO</a>, <a href="/wiki/Solar_Orbiter" title="Solar Orbiter">Solar Orbiter</a>, <a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a>, and <a href="/wiki/XMM-Newton" title="XMM-Newton">XMM-Newton</a>. </p><p>Future missions include:<a href="/wiki/Advanced_Telescope_for_High_Energy_Astrophysics" title="Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics">Athena</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/Euclid_(spacecraft)" title="Euclid (spacecraft)">Euclid</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moon_Explorer" class="mw-redirect" title="Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer">JUICE</a>, and <a href="/wiki/PLATO_(spacecraft)" title="PLATO (spacecraft)">Plato</a>. </p><p>In addition to deep space and solar system exploration, ESAC hosts the data processing of <a href="/wiki/Soil_Moisture_and_Ocean_Salinity_satellite" class="mw-redirect" title="Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite">SMOS</a>, a satellite observing the Earth, and the CESAR educational programme. </p><p>ESAC is also involved in ESA missions conducted in collaboration with other space agencies. One example is <a href="/wiki/Akari_(satellite)" title="Akari (satellite)">Akari</a>, a Japanese-led mission to carry out an infrared sky survey, launched on 21 February 2006. Collaborative programmes include the <a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a>-led <a href="/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="James Webb Space Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Communications">Communications</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Communications"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main articles: <a href="/wiki/Cebreros_Station" title="Cebreros Station">Cebreros Station</a> and <a href="/wiki/Madrid_Deep_Space_Communications_Complex" title="Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex">Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex</a></div> <p>An ESA radio <a href="/wiki/Ground_station" title="Ground station">ground station</a> for communication with spacecraft is located in <a href="/wiki/Cebreros" title="Cebreros">Cebreros</a>, <a href="/wiki/Province_of_%C3%81vila" title="Province of Ávila">Avila</a>, about 90 km from Madrid and 65 km from ESAC. This installation provides essential support to the activities of ESAC. Inaugurated in September 2005, Cebreros has a 35-metre antenna used to communicate with distant missions to Mercury, Venus, Mars and beyond. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Madrid_Deep_Space_Communications_Complex" title="Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex">Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex</a> is also located nearby, operated by the <a href="/wiki/Instituto_Nacional_de_T%C3%A9cnica_Aeroespacial" class="mw-redirect" title="Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial">Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial</a>. It is a station of the <a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Network" class="mw-redirect" title="Deep Space Network">Deep Space Network</a> used primarily for NASA missions, but sometimes supplements Cebreros in communicating with ESA spacecraft. It has a 70-metre antenna, six 34-m antennae and one 26-m antenna. </p><p>Two 15-metre radio antennae are located on the ESAC site, but were decommissioned in 2017.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_facilities">Other facilities</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Other facilities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ESAC also hosts a branch of the <a href="/wiki/Spanish_Astrobiology_Center" title="Spanish Astrobiology Center">Spanish Astrobiology Center</a> (CAB).<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Facilities_of_the_European_Space_Agency" class="mw-redirect" title="Facilities of the European Space Agency">Facilities of the European Space Agency</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Establishments_and_facilities">Establishments and facilities / Welcome to ESA / About Us / ESA</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM8QDSMTWE_0.html">"Villafranca station"</a>. European Space Agency.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Villafranca+station&rft.pub=European+Space+Agency&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.int%2FSPECIALS%2FOperations%2FSEM8QDSMTWE_0.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEuropean+Space+Astronomy+Centre" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cab.inta-csic.es/en/cab/organization/headquarters/">"CAB ESAC Campus"</a>. Centro de Astrobiolgía<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 January</span> 2025</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=CAB+ESAC+Campus&rft.pub=Centro+de+Astrobiolg%C3%ADa&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fcab.inta-csic.es%2Fen%2Fcab%2Forganization%2Fheadquarters%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEuropean+Space+Astronomy+Centre" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=European_Space_Astronomy_Centre&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid 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</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Launch_vehicle" title="Launch vehicle">Launch vehicles</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ariane_6" title="Ariane 6">Ariane 6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_C" title="Vega C">Vega C</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Facilities</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Operations_Centre" title="European Space Operations Centre">Space Operations Centre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Research_and_Technology_Centre" title="European Space Research and Technology Centre">Space Research and Technology Centre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESA_Centre_for_Earth_Observation" title="ESA Centre for Earth Observation">ESA Centre for Earth Observation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Astronaut_Centre" title="European Astronaut Centre">European Astronaut Centre</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Space Astronomy Centre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Centre_for_Space_Applications_and_Telecommunications" title="European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications">Space Applications and Telecommunications Centre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Concurrent_Design_Facility" title="Concurrent Design Facility">Concurrent Design Facility</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Telescope_European_Coordinating_Facility" title="Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility">Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Communications</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESTRACK" title="ESTRACK">ESTRACK</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Data_Relay_System" title="European Data Relay System">European Data Relay System</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Programmes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Artemis_program" title="Artemis program">Artemis</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/European_Service_Module" title="European Service Module">ESM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurora_programme" title="Aurora programme">Aurora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Copernicus_Programme" title="Copernicus Programme">Copernicus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Columbus_(ISS_module)" title="Columbus (ISS module)">Columbus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CryoSat" title="CryoSat">CryoSat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Geostationary_Navigation_Overlay_Service" title="European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service">EGNOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Galileo_(satellite_navigation)" title="Galileo (satellite navigation)">Galileo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Programme_for_Life_and_Physical_Sciences_in_Space" title="European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences in Space">ELIPS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ExoMars" title="ExoMars">ExoMars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Future_Launchers_Preparatory_Programme" title="Future Launchers Preparatory Programme">FLPP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Living_Planet_Programme" title="Living Planet Programme">Living Planet Programme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Situational_Awareness_Programme" title="Space Situational Awareness Programme">Space Situational Awareness Programme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Agency_Science_Programme" title="European Space Agency Science Programme">Science Programme</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cosmic_Vision" title="Cosmic Vision">Cosmic Vision</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Programme_for_Reusable_In-orbit_Demonstrator_in_Europe" title="Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe">PRIDE</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Predecessors</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/European_Launcher_Development_Organisation" title="European Launcher Development Organisation">European Launcher Development Organisation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Research_Organisation" title="European Space Research Organisation">European Space Research Organisation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Related topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arianespace" title="Arianespace">Arianespace</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESA_Television" title="ESA Television">ESA Television</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/EUMETSAT" title="EUMETSAT">EUMETSAT</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Camp" title="European Space Camp">European Space Camp</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Global_Energy_and_Water_Exchanges" title="Global Energy and Water Exchanges">GEWEX</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Planetary_Science_Archive" title="Planetary Science Archive">Planetary Science Archive</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible expanded navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"><div id="Projects_and_missions320" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/List_of_European_Space_Agency_programs_and_missions" class="mw-redirect" title="List of European Space Agency programs and missions">Projects and missions</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Science</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7.0em;text-align: center;">Solar physics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ISEE-2" title="ISEE-2">ISEE-2</a> (1977–1987)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ulysses_(spacecraft)" title="Ulysses (spacecraft)">Ulysses</a> (1990–2009)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_and_Heliospheric_Observatory" title="Solar and Heliospheric Observatory">SOHO</a> (1995–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cluster_II_(spacecraft)" title="Cluster II (spacecraft)">Cluster II</a> (2000–2024)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_Orbiter" title="Solar Orbiter">Solar Orbiter</a> (2020–present)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/ESA_Vigil" title="ESA Vigil">Vigil</a></i> (2031)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7.0em;text-align: center;">Planetary science</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Giotto_(spacecraft)" title="Giotto (spacecraft)">Giotto</a> (1985–1992)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Huygens_(spacecraft)" title="Huygens (spacecraft)">Huygens</a> (1997–2005)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/SMART-1" title="SMART-1">SMART-1</a> (2003–2006)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">Mars Express</a> (2003–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a>/<a href="/wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)" title="Philae (spacecraft)">Philae</a> (2004–2016)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a> (2005–2014)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trace_Gas_Orbiter" title="Trace Gas Orbiter">ExoMars <i>Trace Gas Orbiter</i></a> (2016–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a> (2018–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer" title="Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer">Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer</a> (2023)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hera_(spacecraft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Hera (spacecraft)">Hera</a> (2024)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin_(rover)" title="Rosalind Franklin (rover)"><i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover</a> (2028)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Comet_Interceptor" title="Comet Interceptor">Comet Interceptor</a></i> (2029)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/EnVision" title="EnVision">EnVision</a></i> (2031)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7.0em;text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Astronomy and<br />cosmology</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cos-B" title="Cos-B">Cos-B</a> (1975–1982)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Ultraviolet_Explorer" title="International Ultraviolet Explorer">IUE</a> (1978–1996)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/EXOSAT" title="EXOSAT">EXOSAT</a> (1983–1986)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hipparcos" title="Hipparcos">Hipparcos</a> (1989–1993)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope" title="Hubble Space Telescope">Hubble Space Telescope</a> (1990–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Retrievable_Carrier" title="European Retrievable Carrier">Eureca</a> (1992–93)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infrared_Space_Observatory" title="Infrared Space Observatory">ISO</a> (1995–1998)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/XMM-Newton" title="XMM-Newton">XMM-Newton</a> (1999–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/INTEGRAL" title="INTEGRAL">INTEGRAL</a> (2002–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/CoRoT" title="CoRoT">CoRoT</a> (2006–13)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Planck_(spacecraft)" title="Planck (spacecraft)">Planck</a> (2009–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Herschel_Space_Observatory" title="Herschel Space Observatory">Herschel</a> (2009–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft)" title="Gaia (spacecraft)">Gaia</a> (2013–2025)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/CHEOPS" title="CHEOPS">CHEOPS</a> (2019–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="James Webb Space Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (2021–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Euclid_(spacecraft)" title="Euclid (spacecraft)">Euclid</a> (2023–present)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/PLATO_(spacecraft)" title="PLATO (spacecraft)">PLATO</a></i> (2026)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/ARIEL" title="ARIEL">ARIEL</a></i> (2029)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/ARRAKIHS" title="ARRAKIHS">ARRAKIHS</a></i> (2030s)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Advanced_Telescope_for_High_Energy_Astrophysics" title="Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics">Athena</a></i> (2035)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Laser_Interferometer_Space_Antenna" title="Laser Interferometer Space Antenna">LISA</a></i> (2035)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7.0em;text-align: center;">Earth observation</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Copernicus_Programme" title="Copernicus Programme">Copernicus</a> (1988–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Meteosat#First_generation" title="Meteosat">Meteosat First Generation</a> (1977–1997)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Remote-Sensing_Satellite" title="European Remote-Sensing Satellite">ERS-1</a> (1991–2000)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Remote-Sensing_Satellite" title="European Remote-Sensing Satellite">ERS-2</a> (1995–2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Meteosat#Second_Generation" title="Meteosat">Meteosat Second Generation</a> (2002–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Envisat" title="Envisat">Envisat</a> (2002–2012)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Double_Star_(satellite)" title="Double Star (satellite)">Double Star</a> (2003–2007)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/MetOp" title="MetOp">MetOp</a> (2006–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/GOCE" title="GOCE">GOCE</a> (2009–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soil_Moisture_and_Ocean_Salinity" title="Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity">SMOS</a> (2009–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/CryoSat-2" title="CryoSat-2">CryoSat-2</a> (2010–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swarm_(spacecraft)" title="Swarm (spacecraft)">Swarm</a> (2013–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-1" title="Sentinel-1">Sentinel-1</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-1A" title="Sentinel-1A">1A</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-1B" title="Sentinel-1B">1B</a> / <a href="/w/index.php?title=Sentinel-1C&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sentinel-1C (page does not exist)">1C</a> (2014–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-2" title="Sentinel-2">Sentinel-2</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-2A" title="Sentinel-2A">2A</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-2B" title="Sentinel-2B">2B</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-2C" class="mw-redirect" title="Sentinel-2C">2C</a> (2015–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-3" title="Sentinel-3">Sentinel-3</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-3A" title="Sentinel-3A">3A</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sentinel-3B" title="Sentinel-3B">3B</a> (2016–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-5_Precursor" title="Sentinel-5 Precursor">Sentinel-5 Precursor</a> (2017–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ADM-Aeolus" title="ADM-Aeolus">ADM-Aeolus</a> (2018–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/EarthCARE" title="EarthCARE">EarthCARE</a> (2024–present)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Meteosat_Third_Generation" class="mw-redirect" title="Meteosat Third Generation">Meteosat Third Generation</a></i> (<i><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-4" title="Sentinel-4">Sentinel-4</a></i>) (2024)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/ALTIUS" title="ALTIUS">ALTIUS</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Biomass_(satellite)" title="Biomass (satellite)">Biomass</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/FLEX_(satellite)" title="FLEX (satellite)">FLEX</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/MetOp-SG-A" class="mw-redirect" title="MetOp-SG-A">MetOp-SG-A</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/MetOp-SG-B" class="mw-redirect" title="MetOp-SG-B">MetOp-SG-B</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/SMILE_(spacecraft)" title="SMILE (spacecraft)">SMILE</a></i> (2025)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Far-infrared_Outgoing_Radiation_Understanding_and_Monitoring" title="Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring">FORUM</a></i> (2027)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/European_contribution_to_the_International_Space_Station" title="European contribution to the International Space Station">ISS contributions</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Columbus_(ISS_module)" title="Columbus (ISS module)">Columbus</a> (2008–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Automated_Transfer_Vehicle" title="Automated Transfer Vehicle">Automated Transfer Vehicle</a> (2008–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cupola_(ISS_module)" title="Cupola (ISS module)">Cupola</a> (2010)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Robotic_Arm" title="European Robotic Arm">European Robotic Arm</a> (2021)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Telecommunications</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/European_Space_Research_Organisation#GEOS" title="European Space Research Organisation">GEOS 2</a> (1978)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Olympus-1" title="Olympus-1">Olympus-1</a> (1989–1993)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artemis_(satellite)" title="Artemis (satellite)">Artemis</a> (2001–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/GIOVE-A" class="mw-redirect" title="GIOVE-A">GIOVE-A</a> (2005–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/GIOVE-B" class="mw-redirect" title="GIOVE-B">GIOVE-B</a> (2008–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/HYLAS-1" title="HYLAS-1">HYLAS-1</a> (2010–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Galileo_(satellite_navigation)#In-Orbit_Validation_(IOV)_satellites" title="Galileo (satellite navigation)">Galileo IOV</a> (2011–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Galileo_(satellite_navigation)#Full_Operational_Capability_(FOC)_satellites" title="Galileo (satellite navigation)">Galileo FOC</a> (2014–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Geostationary_Navigation_Overlay_Service" title="European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service">EGNOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Data_Relay_System" title="European Data Relay System">European Data Relay System</a> (2016–present)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Technology<br />demonstrators</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Atmospheric_Reentry_Demonstrator" title="Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator">ARD</a> (1998)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/PROBA" title="PROBA">PROBA-1</a> (2001–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Young_Engineers%27_Satellite_2" title="Young Engineers' Satellite 2">YES2</a> (2007)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/PROBA-2" title="PROBA-2">PROBA-2</a> (2009–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/PROBA-V" title="PROBA-V">PROBA-V</a> (2013–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intermediate_eXperimental_Vehicle" title="Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle">IXV</a> (2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/LISA_Pathfinder" title="LISA Pathfinder">LISA Pathfinder</a> (2015–2017)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/OPS-SAT" title="OPS-SAT">OPS-SAT</a> (2019–present)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/PROBA-3" title="PROBA-3">PROBA-3</a> (2024–present)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Cancelled<br />and proposed</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AIDA_(mission)" class="mw-redirect" title="AIDA (mission)">AIDA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ariane_5_ME" class="mw-redirect" title="Ariane 5 ME">Ariane 5 ME</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Calathus_Mission" title="Calathus Mission">Calathus Mission</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ceres_Polar_Lander" title="Ceres Polar Lander">Ceres Polar Lander</a></li> <li><a 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