Ground segment
![A simplified spacecraft system. Orange arrows denote radio links; black arrows denote ground network links.](/Images/godic/202501/16/Ground_segment1006.png")
![Control center at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory](/Images/godic/202501/16/JPLControlRoom1006.jpg")
![Radio dishes at an Embratel earth station in Tanguá, Brazil](/Images/godic/202501/16/Rio_antennas1006.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/16/GSFC_SpaceTelescopeOperationsControl1006.jpg")
A ground segment consists of all the ground-based control elements of a spacecraft system, as opposed to the space segment and user segment. It serves to enable control of a spacecraft, and distribution of payload data and telemetry among interested parties on the ground.