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.
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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
Go to topicThe Coco team from Southampton University test their innovative satellite control system using floating air platforms on the ORBIT flat floor at ESTEC.
Their Attitude and Orbit Control Ssystem operates using only two cold gas thrusters on vectoring mechanisms (also called gimbals) to control the position and orientation of our system. Movement is achieved by firing these two thrusters and adjusting the angles of the vectoring mechanisms so that thrust is applied at specific angles. If the thrusters were fixed, eight would be required to perform the same manoeuvres.
Specifically, the team has used compliant thrust vectoring mechanisms, which are 3D-printed structures capable of deflecting in two degrees of freedom through bending, thereby eliminating the friction associated with classic thrust vectoring mechanisms.