 With the establishment of the European Space Research Organization in 1964, Ny-Ålesund was approved as one of four sites for a telemetry station of the European Space Tracking Network.Specifically, Kongsfjord Telemetry Station was to track and communicate with the ESRO-1 and ESRO-2 satellites.Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (NTNF) was awarded the job of operating the station.