ESA - Space Engineering - Electrical laboratories

What we do

Directorate of Technical and Quality Management (TEC)

Electrical

Electrical engineering Control Systems Data Systems Radio Frequency Payload Systems Electromagnetics and Space Environment Power and Energy Conversion

Mechanical

Mechanical engineering Thermal Control Structures and Mechanisms Mechatronics and Optics, incl. robotics and life support Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

Systems

Systems and software engineering Software Systems Systems Engineering, incl. cost engineering Technology programmes

Product Assurance

Product Assurance Flight Safety Dependability Quality Management and Assurance Materials and Processes Electronic Components Software Product Assurance

Standards

Requirements and standards European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS)European Space Components Coordination (ESCC)

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Electrical laboratories

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Mars Express Avionics Test Bench highlighting the inter-unit electrical harnesses. Technology developments are required in order to reduce their mass and complexity by using multiplexing or potentially wireless techniques.

Credits: EADS/Astrium (F).

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Radiated emission

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Compact Antenna Test Range. Via reflections in the parabolic subreflector (in the middle) and main reflector (to the right) a plane test wave is created for the antenna under test, in this case the well-defined and ultra-stable VAST-12 antenna, designed for range qualification.

Credits: ESA

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Galileo system simulator facility

Credits: ESA

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Power electronics laboratory workspaces.

Credits: ESA

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Sun Spectrum and Simulated Sun Spectrum in Solar Generator Labor

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The black curve shows the spectral distribution of the Sun above the Earths atmosphere (called Air Mass Zero).
The coloured curves (red, green, blue) show the external quantum efficiencies of a standard triple-junction solar cell of Azur Space GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany.
The external quantum efficiency (simplified) is a physical measure to express which percentage of the incoming light on to a specific solar cell can be translated into electrical power i.e. Numbers of electrons out per photon in.
The bright light blue curve represents the simulated Sun spectral distribution achieved with the sun simulator equipment.

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Last update: 13 October 2009

Laboratories The corona test facility

Mechanical Systems Materials and Electrical Components Laboratories ESTEC - ESA's technical heart

Electrical Laboratories

Avionics Laboratory Electromagnetic Compatibility and Magneto-static Laboratory Antenna Test Facilities RF Payload Systems Laboratories Power Systems laboratory Solar Generator Laboratory European Space Battery Test Centre Laboratory External Laboratories (Electrical)