Measuring ESA's IXV spaceplane

ESA's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, IXV, is tilted and turned along and around all three axes at ESA's Technical Centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands to measure its centre of gravity and moments of inertia, because both influence its flying characteristics.

To be launched on Vega in early November 2014, IXV will flight-test the technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry vehicles returning from low orbit.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV