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 topicThe Pressure Oscillation Demonstrator (POD-Y) used to simulate the instability of combustion inside a solid rocket motor, P120C, was fired on 4 March 2015, at the French military procurement agency test site in Saint Jean d’Illac, France.
Pressure oscillations that occur when a solid rocket motor is ignited could be reduced by a new propellant formula and monolithic (smooth internal) design.
The test lasted 22 seconds at a maximum pressure of 110 bars. It will enable experts to check modelled data against observed results from 38 sensors lining the inside of this reusable demonstrator.