Estrack Ground Stations
ESA’s tracking station network – Estrack – is a global system of ground stations providing links between satellites in orbit and ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany. The core Estrack network comprises seven stations – some with multiple antennas – in seven countries.
The essential task of all ESA ground-based tracking stations is to communicate with spacecraft – to transmit commands and receive scientific data and spacecraft status information.
Our technically advanced stations can track spacecraft almost anywhere – circling Earth, watching the Sun, orbiting at the scientifically crucial Sun-Earth Lagrange points or voyaging deep into our Solar System.
Tracking is provided through all phases of a mission, from ‘LEOP’ – the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase – through to routine operations, special manoeuvres or planetary flybys and ultimately through deorbiting and safe disposal.
Estrack core network
Augmented network
The ESA-owned and operated core Estrack network is complemented by commercially operated stations provided through service contracts with organisations such as the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) and Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (KSAT, Norway).
These include tracking stations located at South Point, Hawaii (USA), Santiago (Chile), TrollSat, Antarctica, Svalbard (Norway) and Dongara (Australia).
These stations are used especially during the LEOP phase of a mission immediately following launch, when the flight control team needs continuous communication with their satellite, beyond what can be provided by ESA’s own station network.
International cooperation
ESA shares Estrack capacity with other space agencies, who in return provide tracking services to ESA missions under a number of resourcing-sharing agreements. These include networks and stations operated by ASI (Italy), CNES (France), DLR (Germany), NASA's Deep Space Network and Goddard Space Flight Centre and JAXA (Japan).
In recent years, Estrack has provided support to missions operated by China and Russia, as well as tracking the descent of NASA rovers to the surface of Mars.
This global cooperation allows all agencies to make use of a wide number of ground stations in geographically advantageous locations, maximising efficiency and enhancing scientific returns for all.
This cooperation is made possible, in part, through ESA's strong support for the development and adoption of internationally recognised technical standards for sharing tracking data.
Supporting European industry
Estrack station development, maintenance and upgrading are done by ESA at ESOC, in cooperation with European industry.
Recent highlights include ESA support to the industrial development of a made-in-Europe integrated chip that powers a new and highly sensitive amplifier that can operate at around –263ºC, just 10 degrees above absolute zero. The upgrade allows ESA’s 35 m-diameter antennas to receive an additional 40—80% scientific data in any given communication window with a spacecraft.
ESA has also supported European industry through the development of new technology – an array of eight small radio-frequency sensors around the rim of an existing dish antenna – that enables the quick acquisition of signals from satellites just after launch.
Explore ESA’s Ground Stations
ESTRACKnow
ESTRACKnow allows you to find out exactly which ground antenna is communicating with which spacecraft at any moment.
Explore the impressive dishes and antennas at ground stations across the globe, working every day to gather all of the vital information returned from space and sending commands direct from mission control.
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