The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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A water table (on the right) is seen with a few centimetres of water spread out on a plastic membrane. The water will support the very thin layer of solar cells and simulate zero gravity.
The crew is now busy preparing this ground model of the arrays to resemble the last known condition of the arrays in space. In case of trouble, the ground arrays can be used to simulate the problems in space, and possible solutions can be tested on ground before activities in space will be carried out.
This test area has been constructed in the hall of the astronaut training-centrifuge - a huge contraption that rotates the astronauts around to simulate large accelerations.
[2 March 2002 15:15 UT]