Dedicated to ESA’s Earth-observing activities, ESRIN, in Frascati, Italy, is the European centre of excellence for exploitation of Earth observation missions.
The mission and payload operations of ESA's Earth observation satellites are managed here and ESRIN is the primary source for the acquisition, distribution and exploitation of data from these and other non-ESA satellites.
Within ESRIN a key role in Europe's space effort has been undertaken with the development of the new small launcher, Vega, which took its maiden voyage in February 2012.
ESRIN also designs and develops all ESA-wide software for corporate applications and is responsible for developing security measures for classified space programmes.
Finally, based at ESRIN is the European Centre for Space Records (ECSR). The ECSR appraises and preserves the valuable technical records of completed ESA projects together with their management archives to safeguard this valuable knowledge for generations to come.

For information about ESRIN, please have a look at the ESRIN brochure.