ESA Santa Maria Station

ESA’s Santa Maria station, also known as Montes das Flores, is an ESTRACK S-band ground station about 5 km from Vila do Porto on Santa Maria in the Azores. It has launcher-tracking capability and receives real-time telemetry from launches originating at ESA’s spaceport in Kourou, supporting launcher tracking and early-orbit acquisition. The station uses a 5.5-metre antenna and includes telecommunications equipment, a no-break power system, lightning protection and support infrastructure. ESA gives the station address as Apartado 49 / Rua Assomada, Vila do Porto, 9580-909, Santa Maria / Açores, Portugal, and publishes an ESOC operations contact.