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
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BepiColombo solar cell arrays will stay highly tilted in relation to the Sun, to reduce the amount of heat energy that absorb and stop them melting. This irradiation testing, performed in ESTEC's Solar Ultra Violet radiation facility, shows how. The solar cell array is being exposed to high intensity UV radiation from above, demonstrating the high degree of tilt involved.
This facility is used to expose material specimens to high intensity UV radiation from 200 nanometres to 400 nanometres under high vacuum conditions, performing high temperatures testing up to 350 C with optional mass spectrometry residual gas analysis to quantify outgassing effects.