|
. | . |
|
by Staff Writers Paris (ESA) Feb 11, 2013
ESA's laboratories are equipped with a huge range of measuring tools, but the most versatile remains the human eye - and it must be looked after. These protective goggles are worn while using lasers to align plasma-measuring probes, in preparation for test firings of space thrusters in ESA's Propulsion Laboratory. Based at ESA's technical centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the Propulsion Laboratory specialises in the testing of ion engines and other thrusters that operate outside Earth's atmosphere. These are test-fired in specialised vacuum chambers, with diagnostic devices - Faraday and Langmuir probes as well as retarding potential analysers - placed at precise points within the thruster's plumes to gather data on its performance. Engineer Giuditta Montesanti is pictured while preparing for a test: the thruster firings themselves take place out of sight, requiring no special protection. The Lab performs testing both for general research and development and in support of European space projects. This spring will see testing of the MiniRIT micro-propulsion thruster for next year's LISA Pathfinder mission. This mission, testing technologies for gravitational wave detection, will be the most precisely controlled spacecraft ever flown, requiring thrusters that are sensitive enough to push back against the force of incoming sunshine.
Related Links ESA Propulsion Laboratory Space Technology News - Applications and Research
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement |