Every space mission has two crews: one in space and one on Earth. While ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot carries out experiments and daily tasks aboard the International Space Station, teams across Europe are working to support her εpsilon mission from the ground. From flight controllers and communicators to scientists, engineers and medical experts, this network of specialists helps keep operations running smoothly and science on track.
At the heart of this network is ESA's Columbus Control Centre near Munich, Germany. Operating around the clock, flight controllers monitor the European Columbus laboratory, coordinate activities with international partners and help ensure the safety of both crew and spacecraft. Their work begins months before a mission starts, integrating experiments, resources and operational requirements into a carefully coordinated plan.
Overseeing these operations is the Flight Director, who leads the team on shift and coordinates Columbus operations with international partners. One of the team's key tools is the astronauts' timeline, a carefully planned schedule covering everything from scientific investigations and maintenance tasks to exercise sessions and meals. The timeline helps coordinate the many activities that make up Sophie's day aboard the Station and ensures that resources, procedures and support teams are in place when needed.
Whether supporting scientific investigations or responding to unexpected situations, mission controllers help ensure that Sophie and her crewmates can focus on life and work in orbit.
Learn more about the Columbus Control Centre in the ESA Explores episode Mission control: keeping the ISS running 24/7.
When astronauts need to communicate with Europe, another team takes over. Based at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, EUROCOM serves as the voice between astronauts in orbit and the many experts supporting them on the ground. Through a single trained communicator, astronauts can access support from engineers, scientists, flight controllers and medical personnel through one coordinated communication channel.
If Sophie has a question about an experiment, equipment or operational procedure, EUROCOM coordinates with the relevant experts on the ground and relays information back to her, helping keep communication clear, efficient and consistent throughout the mission.
The role also goes beyond simply passing on information. EUROCOM team members often know astronauts from their training period and help maintain a familiar human connection throughout the mission.
Learn more about ESA's EUROCOM team in the ESA Explores episode The voice in orbit: talking to astronauts in space.
Supporting these activities at the European Astronaut Centre is the European Crew Operations Support (ECOS) team. Bringing together specialists from astronaut training, crew support, space medicine and the astronaut office, ECOS helps transform research concepts into activities that astronauts can perform in space.
Preparing an experiment for flight is a lengthy process that can take more than a year. Teams work with scientists, develop flight procedures, prepare and integrate activities, and support astronaut training before a payload ever reaches orbit. Once activities are underway, ECOS specialists continue to support operations and coordinate closely with mission control and international partners, helping to bridge the gap between scientific ambition and practical execution in orbit.
During εpsilon, this support includes activities such as E4D, ESA's European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device. While Sophie carries out activities aboard the Station, the ECOS team on the ground helps monitor operations and support the collection of data that will contribute to the development of future exploration missions.
Learn more about the ECOS team in the ESA Explores episode From lab to Orbit: turning space science into reality.
Together, these teams form an extended crew on Earth. During Sophie’s εpsilon mission aboard the Space Station, specialists across Europe are monitoring systems, coordinating science and supporting crew activities. They are joined by a broader network of operations centres, scientists, engineers, trainers and medical experts across Europe whose combined efforts help make every mission possible.
Human spaceflight may capture imaginations through the astronauts who travel to space, but every mission is also the story of the people on the ground who help make it possible.
Want to learn more about the people behind these operations? Discover the latest ESA Explores episodes, also available as audio podcasts on all major podcast platforms.
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