Engineering

Success Stories

The complex demands of space exploration stimulate the need for innovation in an almost inexhaustible range of technologies. It is not surprising that the resultant spin-offs penetrate all sectors of industry bringing wide-ranging benefits to all concerned.

For instance, anti-vibration technology developed for space platforms is finding wide-ranging applications in the construction industry as well as in precision engineering for sensitive instruments. Another example is the ground-penetrating radar that is being used to detect cracks in roofs and walls as well as mine tunnels.

Marc Thiercelin, participant in the 2004/5 Vendée Globe race

'Spacelift' for Vendée Globe sailor

'Spacelift' for Vendée Globe sailor When Marc Thiercelin set out on the Vendée Globe, one of the world’s toughest sailing races, earlier this month, novel space technologies were used to give his six-year-old boat a ‘spacelift’. Lighter batteries, more efficient solar cells and an intel...

Giant robot helps prevent landslides

Giant robot helps prevent landslides Fighting landslides is dangerous work, but help from space is on its way. Recent testing in Italy has shown that the four-tonne Roboclimber can secure slopes without endangering human lives, thanks to innovations from Europe's space programmes.

Airbag to keep windsurfer safe on 8000 km voyage

Airbag to keep windsurfer safe on 8000 km voyage ESA PR 47-2003. Extreme sports adventurer Raphaëla Le Gouvello is about to windsurf 8000 km across the Pacific Ocean - from Peru to Tahiti in 80 days. Her board incorporates a new ‘anti-capsize’ airbag system, the first result of an ESA technology tra...

Space technology for McLaren at the British Grand Prix

Space technology for McLaren at the British Grand Prix ESA PR 48-2002. At the British Grand Prix next weekend, the McLaren team will have a special boost from space technology: their mechanics' suits will feature a cooling system, specially developed from the astronauts' suits by the Technology Transfer P...

Ariane 5 technology turns the lights on

Ariane 5 technology turns the lights on Soon we may be able to fill the bath, turn the lights on and play our favourite CD without moving from our chair or pressing a button. Technology, developed by ESA for European spacecraft, is now being used to create small sensors that can make any fl...

PS2's Gran Turismo 4 offers space tech Pescarolo racing cars

Test-drive ESA technology

Test-drive ESA technology PlayStation users worldwide can now see for themselves what happens when Ariane launcher technology is applied to Le Mans racing. All they have to do is sit back and select which Pescarolo racing car they want to test-drive.

StarTiger to roar in Finland

StarTiger to roar in Finland ESA is hoping to repeat the success of its first StarTiger project. This time the venue will be Tampere University of Technology in Finland, where the StarTiger2 project hopes to come up with ideas for ‘intelligent’ clothing for astronauts, capable of...

Space camera blazes new terahertz trails

Space camera blazes new terahertz trails New imaging technology came to life when ESA’s StarTiger team captured the world's first terahertz picture of a human hand.

A new approach to technology research and development

Innovative brain synergy in Star Tiger

Innovative brain synergy in Star Tiger Bring together a small group of highly motivated researchers, grant them full access to laboratory and production facilities, remove all administrative distractions and let them work for an intense period of four to six months. That’s what Star Tiger*...