8 SEPTEMBER 1967

ESOC INAUGURATION

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) was inaugurated by Minister of Research of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard Stoltenberg, in a new building at Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, Darmstadt, with 95 employees. Stig Comet, Director of ESOC’s predecessor, the European Space Data Centre (ESDAC), takes over as first Director at ESOC.

17 MAY 1968

ESRO-2B LAUNCH

Launch of ESRO-2B (IRIS 2), the first satellite controlled from ESOC, by a Scout-B rocket from Space Launch Complex 5 (SLC-5) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA. Routine control for three years.