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
ESRO's seventh satellite, ESRO-4, was launched on November 22nd, 1972 by a Scout rocket from Canaveral. This 130kg thermosphere science satellite provided readings that led to the conclusion that the polar upper atmosphere temperature is higher than that over the equator.
This documentary explains ESRO-4's purpose, and the overall project management by ESTEC. It also includes much cleanroom footage - vibration testing; thermovacuum tests; solar panel manufacture; power supply subsystem development; heat-shield ejection tests; magnetic testing; boom deployment tests; and development of telecommunications, thermal control and attitude control subsystems. There is coverage of satellite integration and testing, prior to the launch itself; animations illustrate the flight, fourth stage separation and deployment. ESOC's acquisition of telemetry data produced by the satellite is shown; further animations are used to demonstrate how the satellite's spin axis changes. Finally, the various experiments are described by
Not available