Introduction to SCOS-2000^®.

SCOS-2000^® is the generic mission control system software of ESA. Originally developed to support ESA missions, the software, is now being promoted as a software product and licenses are being granted in the fields of space research and technology.

SCOS-2000^® has been built upon the knowledge gained from more than 30 years of satellite operations at ESOC and taking into account the experience obtained while developing and operating its predecessors MSSS, SCOS-1 and SCOS-2. It was used operationally for the first time during the launch and early orbit phase of MSG-1 in August 2002 and currently serves all ESA missions launched after this date (namely Integral, Mars-Express and Smart-1).

Since its first release SCOS-2000^® keeps evolving and improving. The first release run under Sun Solaris operating system but the code was modified in year 2001 to make it compatible with Linux. The Linux version allows exploiting the low cost of Intel-based architectures and has already been used operationally outside ESA thanks to the scheme that licenses the software free of charge to the European Industry. The Linux version has been used at ESA too for implementing the central checkout systems of the missions Herschel and Planck.