ESTL

The European Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL), now owned by ESR technology, was involved in the development of the atomic force microscope used on the MIDAS instrument. The primary role of ESTL was to lend its expertise to the design and lubricant selection for some of the sub assemblies of the instrument. This was to ensure the protection of the sensors during launch and analysis. ESTL also provided the lubrication for major instrument components and used its dedicated test facilities in order to assemble various units and test their performance in the environments likely to be encountered, this included the development of the reaction wheels on the orbiter, the development of the motors that drive the solar arrays and the development of the motors for the Philae lander anchoring system.