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Berlin: The European Space Agency said on Tuesday that it is putting eight of its spacecraft into hibernation as it scales down operations during the coronavirus outbreak.

An ESA satellite in orbit.Credit:ESA/ATG/AP

The agency said it is further reducing the already limited number of staff working on site at its mission control in Darmstadt, Germany. As a result, the instruments and data collection on some space probes are being temporarily stopped.

The eight spacecraft are among 21 currently flown from Darmstadt. The agency said one staff member there has tested positive for COVID-19.

"Our priority is the health of our workforce, and we will therefore reduce activity on some of our scientific missions, especially on interplanetary spacecraft, which currently require the highest number of personnel on site," ESA's director of operations, Rolf Densing, said.

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