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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During intense training at ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) on 10 February 2009, simulation engineers inject failures into the Mission Control System, emulating possible problems that may occur during the Herschel-Planck dual launch, scheduled for 16 April 2009. The joint Mission Control Team, working in the Centre's Main Control Room (MCR), are forced to react, implementing immediate actions to recover from the problem.