Combined Visit of ETHZ and EPFL Alumni to ESTEC
Chapter Netherlands Alumni
About 30 participants could enjoy an interesting display of lectures and demonstrations of some of the activities carried out at the European Space Research Technology Center (ESTEC) site in Noordwijk on June 20, 2019.
ESA, the European Space agency, has sites in several European countries. But the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, is the largest. ESTEC is the technical heart - the incubator of the European space effort - where most ESA projects are born and where they are guided through the various phases of development.
All about spacecraft
Around 2500 employees develop and manage all types of ESA missions at ESTEC: Telecommunications, human spaceflight, satellite navigation and Earth observation are probably the most known missions carried out by ESA.
ESTEC provides all the managerial and technical competences and facilities which the engineers need to initiate and manage the development of space systems and technologies. Operating an environmental test center for spacecraft includes the collaboration with other specialized engineering laboratories and facilities all over the world. ESTEC works closely with other organizations such as universities, research institutes and national agencies of ESA Member States.
Culinary treat at the seaside
The three-hour display concluded with a generous round of cocktails and snacks. About 20 of us then went to the nearby seaside town of Katwijk where we had a delightful meal at a restaurant on the beach.
