ɪnðə lˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti z ænd ˈɜːli nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi z, ˌiːˌɛsˈeɪ bɪɡˈæn tʊ ɛkspˈænd ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃənz ɪn spˈeɪn, ɪstˈæblɪʃɪŋ ðə vˌɪlɐfɹˈæŋkə stˈeɪʃən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, ESA began to expand operations in Spain, establishing the Villafranca Station in 1978.