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EURECA

Another ESA life sciences project was carried aboard the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA). Launched 31 July 1992, EURECA operated at an altitude of 500 km with an orbital inclination of 28.5 degrees and was designed for longer-duration experiments than are available with Spacelab. After eleven months in orbit, the US STS retrieved EURECA in June, 1993. Used for both materials and life sciences, EURECA's first mission included the Exobiology and Radiation Assembly as one of the five major components of the payload. EURECA-1 utilized about seventy percent of the maximum 1,000-kg payload capacity. Optimal microgravity conditions are about 5x10^-7 g (an order of magnitude better than is achievable aboard Spacelab), while the guaranteed worst conditions are 10^-5 g (similar to Spacelab). Originally planned for five flights, future missions of EURECA are uncertain (References 2-4).

3. J. R. Asker, "Eureca Will Offer New Capabilities for Extended Microgravity Experiments", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 20 July 1992, p. 46.

4. P.B. de Selding, "Eureca Platform May Be Retired After Retrieval", Space News, 1-7 March 1993, p. 4.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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