The ESA Centre for Earth Observation (also known as ESRIN) located in Frascati, Italy, is one of the five specialised centres of the European Space Agency (ESA) located across Europe.
Located in Frascati, a small town 20 km south of Rome in Italy, ESRIN was established in 1966 and first began acquiring data from environmental satellites in the 1970s.
Earth observation: Earth Observation data has grown in importance as more and more international and national agencies recognise the many uses to which it can be put. Satellites for Earth observation keep a constant watch over the Earth and the data they provide help to safeguard the planet in which we live. Since 2004, ESRIN has been the headquarters for ESA's Earth Observation activities.
A multi-faceted centre: A number of other activities are also carried out at ESRIN, each of which is making an important contribution to ESA’s work. Among other things the establishment hosts the ESA development team for the Vega Launcher.