Images from the intensive simulation training taking place today at ESOC, Darmstadt, as the Swarm mission control team prepares for the critical launch and early orbit phase.

Members of the Swarm mission control team working today at ESOC in an intensive simulation for the launch and early orbit phase. Teams are supporting the mission controllers from flight dynamics, Estrack and software, and the 'sim' is being overseen by the training team. Credit: ESA

Members of the Swarm mission control team working today at ESOC in an intensive simulation for the launch and early orbit phase. Teams are supporting the mission controllers from flight dynamics, Estrack and software, and the ‘sim’ is being overseen by the training team. Credit: ESA

Experts from across the ESOC centre – including flight dynamics, Estrack ground stations and software support – and from the Swarm project team are also supporting.

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