ALL ABOUT ESA

Space programmes need resources. This means funds, people and expertise. ESA employs just over 2000 permanent staff, spread among its main centres and smaller offices around the world.

Headquarters in Paris is home to the main programme directorates that steer and formulate ESA policy.

ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, in the Netherlands is the largest site and the technical heart of ESA. It is the main centre of design and technical expertise for ESA’s satellite, space exploration and human spaceflight activities.

Tracking and controlling European spacecraft is the task of the European Space Operations Centre, ESOC, based in Germany.

The European Astronaut Centre, EAC, also in Germany, trains astronauts for missions to the International Space Station and beyond.

ESRIN, near Rome, Italy, manages ESA’s Earth Observation activities, develops information systems and runs the Vega launcher project.

The European Space Astronomy Centre, ESAC, in Spain, hosts the science operation centres and scientific archives for ESA’s astronomy and planetary missions.