Michael in Space (almost)

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to visit the European Space Operations Centre

Maximum Risk video

in Darmstadt. A friend of mine is working there as a software developer and together with Oliver (of LinuxTag fame), we got a private tour of the ESA facilities (Thanks again, Kester!).
Fido full
The whole thing mostly feels like any other science office or university, but this one has huge control rooms (as seen on Armageddon Second in Command buy ;-) with a ton of displays displaying somewhat important things.
Most memorable were the display containing a big piece of debris from the failed first launch of Ariane 5 (seemed to me like a ever-standing bid for more software quality) and the cafeteria selling pots of coffee for a mere € 0.25. I am now also proud owner of a tourist quality ESA shirt I got for setting my foot on into the ESA fanshop.