ELECTRONICS SPACE TEST (EST)
Research Area: Avionics and Software
Expedition(s): 10 and 11
Principal Investigator(s): ● Giorgia Pontetti, G & A Engineering, Oricola, Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Electronics Space Test (EST) experiment is an analysis and test campaign to demonstrate
that standard industrial components that are adequately protected and used correctly can be
implemented in space. The EST is a technology demonstrator validating an electronic high-
density power system,
new generation
batteries, advanced
calculus devices for real-
time computing,
programmable and re-
programmable devices
for microsatellite and
picosatellite subsystems
and different kinds of
sensors typically found
aboard spacecraft.
RESULTS
The experiment results
were very positive as no
failures of the
commercial components were recorded during the mission. No failures were logged by the
Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori during the 10 days aboard mission (Soyuz 10S/Soyuz 9S
exchange), and all the scheduled data were recorded by EST components. Once back on
ground, the EST stored data were analyzed and verified the success of the experiment.
PUBLICATION(S)
Fortezza R, Pontetti G, Martinelli E, Lo Castro F, Di Natale C, D'Amico A. Soyuz missions and taxi
flights. New opportunities for technology development. An example: The ENEIDE mission. Acta
Astronautica. 2006 July; 59(1-5): 351-357. doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2006.02.025.
This investigation is complete, and all results are published.
ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori works with Electronics Space Test equipment on
the International Space Station in 2005. ESA image.