• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.251-269
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• 2020

Euclid is an optical/near-infrared survey mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) to investigate the nature of dark energy, dark matter and gravity by observing the geometry of the Universe and the formation of structures over cosmological timescales. The Euclid spacecraft mechanical architecture comprises the Payload Module (PLM) and the Service Module (SVM) connected by an interface structure designed to maximize thermal and mechanical decoupling. This paper shortly illustrates the mechanical system of the spacecraft and the mechanical verification philosophy which is based on the Structural and Thermal Model (STM), built at flight standard for structure and thermal qualification and the Proto Flight Model (PFM), used to complete the qualification programme. It will be submitted to a proto-flight test approach and it will be suitable for launch and flight operations. Within the overall verification approach crucial mechanical tests have been successfully performed (2018) on the SVM platform and on the sunshield (SSH) subsystem: the SVM platform static test, the SSH structure modal survey test and the SSH sine vibration qualification test. The paper reports the objectives and the main results of these tests.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.225-242
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• 2016

Euclid is an astronomy and astrophysics space mission of the European Space Agency. The mission aims to understand why the expansion of the Universe is accelerating and what is the nature of the source responsible for this acceleration which physicists refer to as dark energy. This paper provides both an overview of the spacecraft mechanical architecture and a synthesis of the process applied to establish adequate mechanical loads for design and testing. Basic methodologies and procedures, logics and criteria which have been used with the target to meet a compliant, "optimised" design are illustrated. The strategy implemented to limit the risk for overdesign and over-testing without jeopardizing the design margins is also addressed.