European Space Research and Technology Centre

infobox Organization
name = European Space Research and Technology Centre

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caption = ESTEC buildings in Noordwijk, Netherlands
abbreviation = ESTEC
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location = Noordwijk, Netherlands
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parent_organization = European Space Agency
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website = [http://www.esa.int/estec www.esa.int/estec]
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The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) is the European Space Agency's main technology development and test centre for spacecraft and space technology. It is situated in Noordwijk, South Holland, in the western Netherlands.

At ESTEC, about 2500 engineers, technicians and scientists work hands-on with mission design, spacecraft and space technology. ESTEC provides extensive testing facilities to verify the proper operation of spacecraft, such as the Large Space Simulator (LSS), acoustic and electromagnetic testing bays, multi-axis vibration tables and the ESA Propulsion Laboratory (EPL). Prior to the launch of almost all equipment that ESA launches is tested in some degree at ESTEC.

The Space Expo is ESTEC's visitors center. It has a permanent exhibition about space exploration.

Activities

* Future mission assessment
* Current project support
* Test Center
* Operations

See also

* European Space Agency
* Concurrent Design Facility
* Advanced Concepts Team
* Mission Science Division

External links

* [http://www.esa.int/estec European Space Research and Technology Centre]
*nl icon [http://www.spaceexpo.nl/ Space Expo Noordwijk] (ESTEC visitors center)
* [http://www.european-test-services.net ESTEC Test Centre Operations]