ESA - Technology - Spotlighting ESA's year of technology innovations

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Spotlighting ESA's year of technology innovations

4 February 2010

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A robot operator strapped into telepresence devices (a stereo video helmet, the ESA Exoskeleton and a human hand Exoskeleton). The ESA Exoskeleton, developed for intuitive operation of space robots, will be on show during the Techno-Innovation days.

Credits: ESA

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The Techno-Innovation Days are taking place at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the ESA's establishment located in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Credits: ESA - A. Van Der Geest

Innovative discussions

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Proba-2 is flight-testing a total of 17 technology demonstrators for future ESA missions. It also serves as a scientific platform for solar and space weather observations.

Credits: ESA/Pierre Carril

Highlighting R&D achievements

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ESA led solar cell R&D is extending the reach of solar-powered spacecraft across the solar system, including Bepi-Colombo to Mercury (seen here). Operating solar cells close to the Sun actually presents a tall order, as cell efficiency decreases as temperature increases. Venus Express needs to endure spacecraft heating four times higher than normal, while BepiColombo will have to cope with solar radiation ten times more intense than that of Earth orbit, and to temperatures of about 350°C – 120 degrees higher than the maximum tolerable solar cell operating temperature. The Agency's Solar Orbiter probe will fly even closer, experiencing sunlight 22 times brighter than in Earth orbit. For missions headed in the other direction, out to deep space, low-intensity low-temperature (LILT) solar cells have been tailored, enabling missions all the out out to Jupiter. These new types of solar cells also have potential applications on Earth - LILT cells have been adapted for smart hotel keys, capable of running on indoor light levels alone.

Credits: ESA - D. Ducros

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