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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Once its mobile launch gantry is moved away, then Europe’s Vega launcher is primed for lift-off – except for the time the stuck gantry refused to move. Solving the problem and getting the gantry mobile again was one of the more unusual tasks of ESA’s Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory. ESA metallurgist Adrian Graham explains in his own words how the movement of the gantry’s wheels was analysed with the Lab’s Aramis 3D camera system. Without touching the test subject, Aramis measure the 3D surface deformation of items subjected to various kinds of loads, from mechanical loads to themal stress. Aramis can identify the slightest submillimetre deformation of materials and structures put to the test.