Vibration control in space

Most people are aware that the Space Shuttle is used to launch satellites, and occasionally to retrieve them, but far less prominence is given to the scientific programme. Some of the experiments conducted in Earth orbit are very sensitive to even the residual accelerations which exist on the Shuttle which are caused by vibration in mechanical subsystems and crew movement. This article describes some of the techniques which are being proposed to control vibration aboard spacecraft in order to secure a high-quality microgravity environment.<>