ESTRACK

ESTRACK, short for the European Space Tracking network, is the European Space Agency's network of ground stations responsible for providing telemetry, tracking and command services to ESA spacecraft and, when needed, to cooperating missions. It supports data downlinks, uplinks for commands, ranging, and orbit determination, and underpins mission operations and science data transfer.

The network is a key component of ESA's space communications and navigation infrastructure, enabling European space activity and international cooperation. Operations are coordinated from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, with the individual ground stations providing local support as part of a unified system. ESTRACK uses radio links across multiple frequency bands to support different mission profiles, including standard telemetry and command as well as higher-rate data transmission for science data.

ESTRACK stations are distributed across Europe, the Americas and Australia, equipped with large antennas and modern radio hardware to support both near-Earth and deep-space missions. The stations are connected to ESOC through secure data links, enabling centralized mission planning, real-time monitoring, and streamlined data handling.

The network serves a wide range of ESA missions, including planetary exploration, Earth observation, and astronomy, and it collaborates with other space agencies to provide cross-support when needed. Over time, ESTRACK has expanded with new sites, upgraded antennas, and enhanced data handling capabilities to meet evolving mission requirements and maintain Europe’s independent access to space and international cooperation in space science.