Abstract: The space environments involve mainly vacuum, electron, proton, ion, solar UV, atomic oxygen, debris, extreme temperature, contamination and are related with total irradiation dose effects，single event effects, charging and discharging effects on spacecrafts, and, sometimes, catastrophic failure and abnormity. In order to study the severeness and complexity of space environmental detrimental effects, ESA/ESTEC sets up a space environment laboratory in the Department of Product Assurance and Safety with advanced laboratory verification for space environment protection for ESA spacecraft. This paper reviews the studies of space environment ground test abilities in ESA/ESTEC, including space environment simulation facilities, instruments, and the related test standards. The organization of spacecraft development among ESA, ESTEC, and its Department of Product Assurance and Safety where the space environment laboratory is located is also discussed. The assurance functions of the department and the space environment laboratory with respect to spacecraft’s quality, reliability, safety are analyzed. Some suggestions are made about improving the space environmental adaptability in China for developing spacecrafts with long life and high reliability.