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 topic
The question of how spending on space research can be justified is one which often arises. This documentary explains how the development of technologies for use in the space industry often results in spin-offs which can be utilised on Earth.
After an introductory section covering the history of spaceflight, the work of ESTEC ( Infrared Space Observatory and European Remote Sensing Satellite 2) and the Spacelink Europe Project, the film gives the following examples of technology transfer:
-the development of sealant subsequent to the Challenger disaster, and its use in industrial plants;
-the manufacture of silica quilts for use in helicopter casing, originally designed to withstand heat on spacecraft re-entry;
-tetrahedral wedges use for robotic joining (on the forthcoming International Space Station), possible applications in the tools market;
-spin-offs of satellite communications, antennae used in mobile communications;
-biomedical applications - algal photosynthesis, tiny pumps used in administration of
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