![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2015\/03\/cabling_for_bepicolombo_testing\/15296091-1-eng-GB\/Cabling_for_BepiColombo_testing_small.jpg\")
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\nArtist Edgar Martins\u2019 view of cabling used during testing of ESA\u2019s BepiColombo spacecraft at ESTEC<\/a> \u2013 the largest satellite testing facility in Europe, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. \n<\/p>\n \nBepiColombo<\/a> is a joint mission with Japan to Mercury, the innermost world of the Solar System, set for launch in January 2017. BepiColombo will venture closer to the Sun than any European spacecraft before, so requires rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the high temperatures and radiation exposure.\n<\/p>\n \nEdgar Martins<\/a> has collaborated closely with ESA to produce a comprehensive photographic survey of the Agency\u2019s various facilities around the globe, together with those of its international partners.\n<\/p>\n \nCharacteristically empty of people, his long-exposures \u2013 shot over up to one hour using a 10×8 inch (25×20 cm), large-format camera \u2013 possess a stark, reverent style, variously depicting test centres, robotics departments, space simulators, laboratories, launch sites, astronaut training centres and satellite assembly rooms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \t\t\t\t\t \nArtist Edgar Martins\u2019 view of cabling used during testing of ESA\u2019s BepiColombo spacecraft at ESTEC<\/a> \u2013 the largest satellite testing facility in Europe, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. \n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n