The European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) is a reusable platform launched by the Shuttle, released in a free flying mode for 6 months or more, and then retrieved by the Shuttle Orbiter and returned to Earth. Payload capacity is up to 1000 kg. The first EURECA payload is primarily dedicated to material and life sciences which benefit from the microgravity environment. The versatility of the system is demonstrated by the fact that a quarter of the payload weight is taken up by space science and technological experiments. The EURECA provides an excellent test bed to demonstrate in-flight technologies such as direct data relay from low Earth orbits via geostationary satellites to a central operations center, rendezvous and docking, and in-orbit servicing. Earth observation possibilities, and commercial applications (new materials, crystal growth, proteins, and pharmaceutical products) are numerous.


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    Title :

    EURECA: An Introduction to Europe's Free-Flying Retrievable Carrier


    Contributors:
    N. Longdon (author)

    Publication date :

    1985


    Size :

    21 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English