Dutch industries and institutes are active in many sectors of the space infrastructure such as the launchers Ariane and Vega and large infrastructure programmes such as ISS.
Dutch companies have developed and built various components such as structures, interstage rings, and motor frames developed for Ariane programmes.
Courtesy Stork Aerospace: Engine frame production for Ariane
As far back as the 1960s, Dutch companies and institutes were involved in the development and construction of parts for Spacelab. Based on this experience, more than 20 Dutch companies, institutes and universities have been involved in projects related to the International Space Station (ISS).
Many payloads and small instruments for Spacelab, the Space Shuttle and the ISS have been built. A number of large gloveboxes for Spacelab missions such as IML and USML, medium-size boxes for Mir and the Space Shuttle and very large gloveboxes like MSG and LSG for the ISS were built by Dutch companies.
Courtesy Bradford Engineering BV: Life Science Glovebox
