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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.
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Space Rider's ALEK on shaker
A part of the orbital module for the European Space Agency’s reuseable spacecraft Space Rider on a shaker at the Agency’s technical heart ESTEC in The Netherlands, 4 March 2025.
Space Rider is a versatile reuseable spacecraft about the size of two minivans that allows for all kind of missions, from pharmaceutical research to visiting orbital platforms and more. After missions that can last up to three months, Space Rider returns to Earth, and precision-lands on skids after a paraglider descent.
While in orbit Space Rider relies on a Vega-C rocket fourth stage called AVUM+ (Attitude Vernier Upper Module) with a new element built by Beyond Gravity for Avio, called ALEK (AVUM Life Extension Kit). The rocket fourth stage provides propulsion to move and orient the spacecraft and the ALEK provides electricity and other services needed for the orbital life of the vehicle with two solar panel wings. Together these elements make up the expendable orbital module that separates from the Space Rider reentry module before its return to Earth.
ALEK’s structure spent two months at ESA’s testing facility being put through the full range of mechanical tests and stresses it will experience when launched on a Vega-C rocket.
The test routine started on the shaker with the ALEK being moved sideways to reenact the vibrations it will endure on launch. Then it was moved to another shaker and pulsed up and down to check vertical vibrations. Over 120 sensors recorded the accelerations with Avio and ESA technicians monitoring the results.
