Birthing / docking mechanism

The division performs structural configuration studies for hardware including launchers, manned, and unmanned spacecraft, re-entry vehicles, manned modules, payloads, equipment, instruments, and launch vehicle to spacecraft structural interfaces, from initial feasibility studies through to launch and in-flight performance analysis.

On the Mechanisms side it includes the ongoing enhancements made to the Ariane and VEGA launchers, the forthcoming Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) and the new generation of ESA missions planned for celestial surfaces and extreme cold and warm environments.