European Space Research and Technology Centre

The European Space Research and Technology Centre ( engl. European Space Research and Technology Centre - ESTEC ) is part of the European Space Agency (ESA ), based in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Here you will find a lot of the technical planning and coordination take place with the industry for the missions. In ESTEC, the satellites will be tested for their suitability for space conditions. These include, inter alia, Vibration tests, Thermal-/Vakuum-Tests and tests for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

Furthermore, also housed laboratories for material testing at ESTEC. Here, among others, the built- in satellite plastics and metals (for example, micro - VCM, TGA ) were tested with different Outgassingtests on their suitability for space.

The grounds also Noordwijk Space Expo is located.

Also, the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT ), a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in advanced and future technologies, strategies and issues is established at ESTEC.