![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2016\/03\/six-degree-of-freedom_microvibration_machine\/15894415-1-eng-GB\/Six-degree-of-freedom_microvibration_machine_small.jpg\")
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\nThe latest addition to ESA\u2019s satellite-testing facilities is this six-degree-of-freedom microvibration unit, sufficiently sensitive to identify the multi-axis forces induced by a single dropped feather.\n<\/p>\n
\nMost satellites have some limits on microvibration to ensure high-quality results, especially for science, Earth observation and human spaceflight. Minimising jitter helps to deliver ultra-high-resolution images, precision attitude control and pointing stability for optimal science measurements.\n<\/p>\n
\nMany essential satellite elements are potential sources of jitter, such as spinning reaction wheels, scanning or pointing mechanisms, solar array drives or rotating cryocoolers.\n<\/p>\n
\nDeveloped for ESA by the UK\u2019s National Physical Laboratory<\/a> \u2013 a national centre of excellence for measurement standards \u2013 this new microvibration test machine is designed to characterise extremely small disturbances from satellite subsystems or to assess the performance of precision mechanisms.\n<\/p>\n \nIn addition, it is able to generate a controlled microvibration environment by itself, allowing the assessment of an item\u2019s performance under various conditions.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIn recent years we\u2019ve built a portfolio of world-class microvibration test facilities with demonstrated, unprecedented performance,\u201d comments Mark Wagner, ESA\u2019s Head of Test Facilities and Test Methods.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis new facility is complementing these capabilities, enabling us to offer an independent characterisation of potential microvibration sources while also allowing performance testing of sensitive equipment while subjected to an injected microvibration environment."\n<\/p>\n \nStanding around a metre high, the facility \u2013 being installed at the ESTEC Test Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands \u2013 performs two tasks at once.\n<\/p>\n \nIts bottom section isolates the rest of the measurement part of the machine from vibrations transferred via the ground such as nearby footsteps, seismic noise or even the waves of the nearby North Sea. Suitably detached in this way, the top section measures micronewton-scale forces and torques from the item under test.\n<\/p>\n \nThe unit operates under a plastic tent to minimise perturbations from airflow caused by the building\u2019s cleanroom-class air conditioning. It can also work in vacuum.\n<\/p>\n \nOnce it is qualified, it will enter service in June. ESA is also looking for a permanent name for the machine \u2013 watch this space for more details.\n<\/p>\n \nESA Test Centre<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \nDesigned for full-scale satellite testing, the ESTEC Test Centre<\/a> is a collection of facilities to simulate every aspect of the space environment.\n<\/p>\n \nEverything is located under a single roof, within a controlled cleanroom environment tailored for delicate flight hardware.\n<\/p>\n \nBased in a dedicated building in ESTEC, it is the largest centre of its kind in Europe, and one of the largest in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nThe latest addition to ESA’s satellite-testing facilities is this six-degree-of-freedom microvibration unit, sufficiently sensitive to identify the multi-axis forces induced by a single dropped feather.\n<\/p>\n \nMost satellites have some limits on microvibration to ensure high-quality results, especially for science, Earth observation and human spaceflight. Minimising jitter helps to deliver ultra-high-resolution images, precision attitude control and pointing stability for optimal science measurements.\n<\/p>\n \nMany essential satellite elements are potential sources of jitter, such as spinning reaction wheels, scanning or pointing mechanisms, solar array drives or rotating cryocoolers.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n