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
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
The scintillator device that converts X-rays to visible light. The Scint-X scintillator is produced with the new ‘micro-electro-mechanical systems’ (MEMS) technology. It was implemented by Swedish company Nanospace to develop miniaturisation solutions for many of the fluid-handling components required in a spacecraft propulsion system, such as valves, pressures sensors, filters, nozzles, heaters and pipes. The manufacturing technique cuts deep, steep-sided holes and trenches in silicon waters, integrating all the mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and electronics on a common silicon substrate. Today, a number of non-space companies and research groups, such as Scint-X, have taken advantage of this new technology and Nanospace’s experience from producing space components in MEMS.