ESA Science & Technology - Euclid STM in thermal-vacuum chamber

The Euclid Structural and Thermal Model (STM) in the thermal-vacuum chamber at the Thales Alenia Space facilities in Cannes, France. Integrated in near-flight configuration, the STM completed the thermal vacuum tests in September 2019, marking an important step in the lengthy process that will lead eventually to the verification of the spacecraft's performance before launch.

Some of the elements composing the STM are identical to the flight counterparts and they will be retained as spares for the spacecraft once the STM campaign is completed. One important advantage of the STM is that, being a copy, it can be submitted to temperatures and mechanical stresses that are even more extreme than those expected in flight, therefore achieving qualification of the spacecraft design.