In-Orbit Performance of the EURECA AOCS

Abstract

The EURECA (European Retrievable Carrier) is a μ-gravity platform for multi-disciplinary space science missions and was developed by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA) under contract to the European Space Agency (ESA). On the 31st of July 92 it was launched on-board the US shuttle into a near Earth orbit and was retrieved on the 24th of June 93 in the course of the STS 57 shuttle mission. EURECA was controlled by ESA's Space Operations Centre in Germany. The attitude and orbit control subsystem (AOCS) of EURECA was developed and tested by DASA and MATRA.