ESOCS ROLE IN ROUTINE HIPPARCOS OPERATIONS

The routine science data collection phase of the ESA Hipparcos astrome try mission commenced on 1 November 1989, since when the mission has r un routinely without major interruption. The activities carried out by ESOC during these last two years of highly successful mission operati ons have directly contributed to the extraction of the optimum perform ance from the scientific payload and to the high efficiency of the sci entific data collection.