Netherlands Institute for Space Research
Encyclopedia
SRON was founded in 1983 under the former names Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland / Space Research Organisation Netherlands. SRON is part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research NWO
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
The Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek is a scientific research organization in the Netherlands....
and has a facilities in Utrecht and in Groningen.
Science and technology
The institute has about 200 staff who are employed at a support department and five divisions: High-Energy Astrophysics (HEA), Low-Energy Astrophysics (LEA), Earth and Planetary Science (EPS), Sensor Research and Technology (SR&T) and Engineering Division (ED). Together they form a unique melting pot of top scientists and technologists who inspire each other to perform at their absolute best. Problems faced by scientists challenge sensor developers to construct increasingly more sensitive technology. Together with mechanical and electronic engineers they ultimately develop a scientific space instrument with an exceptional level of performance under the extreme conditions of space. The scientific breakthroughs made with such devices in turn inspire new research and new technology, usually in cooperation with national and international partners.Groundbreaking technology
SRON’s ambition is to act as leading institute in the development of state-of-the-art satellite instruments for space research missions of ESA, NASA and other agencies. Through the years SRON technology has contributed to many ground-breaking space missions, mainly dedicated to mapping the infrared sky (e.g. IRAS, ISO, HIFI/Herschel), analyzing X-ray and gamma ray sources (e.g. CGRO/COMPTEL, Beppo-SAX, Chandra, XMM-Newton) and studying the Earth atmosphere (SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT). Examples of future missions to which SRON will contribute are SPICA (infrared), ASTRO-H (X-ray) and Sentinel 5 Precursor (Earth atmosphere). The institute is also planning contributions to missions which will study other planets in our solar system and beyond.Current missions or projects with SRON contribution
- Chandra X-Ray ObservatoryChandra X-ray ObservatoryThe Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...
& (LETG) - XMM-NewtonXMM-NewtonThe XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...
(& RGS) - INTEGRALINTEGRALThe European Space Agency's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory is an operational Earth satellite, launched in 2002 for detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It is the most sensitive gamma ray observatory ever launched.INTEGRAL is an ESA mission in...
- Astro-HASTRO-HAstro-H is a planned X-ray astronomy satellite under development by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . It is expected to be launched in 2014 into the 550 km height orbit around earth. Launch vehicle will be the H-IIA.With a planned weight of 2.4 t, Astro-H will be the heaviest Japanese...
(& SXS) - IXO
- Herschel Space ObservatoryHerschel Space ObservatoryThe Herschel Space Observatory is a European Space Agency space observatory sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands. It is the largest space telescope ever launched, carrying a single mirror of in diameter....
& HIFI - SPICA (& SAFARI)SAFARI imaging spectrometerThe SAFARI imaging spectrometer is the European ‘nerve center’ of Japanese infrared telescope SPICA and is being developed under the leadership of SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research...
- ALMAAtacama Large Millimeter ArrayThe Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array is an array of radio telescopes in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. Since a high and dry site is crucial to millimeter wavelength operations, the array is being constructed on the Chajnantor plateau at 5000 metres altitude...
- EnvisatEnvisatEnvisat is an Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an Ariane 5 from the Guyana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of...
(& SCIAMACHYSCIAMACHYSCIAMACHY is one of ten instruments aboard of ESA's ENVIronmental SATellite, ENVISAT....
) - Sentinel 5-Precursor (& TROPOMI)
- GOCEGravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation ExplorerThe Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer is an ESA satellite that was launched on March 17, 2009. It is a satellite carrying a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer which detects fine density differences in the crust and oceans of the Earth.GOCE data will have many uses,...
- ERS-2European Remote-Sensing SatelliteEuropean remote sensing satellite was the European Space Agency's first Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on July 17, 1991 into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at a height of 782–785 km.-Instruments:...
- MetOpMetOpMetOp is a series of polar orbiting meteorological satellites operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The satellites are all part af the EUMETSAT Polar System. It is intended to replace the soon to be retired TIROS network...
(GOMEGOMEGOME may refer to:* GOME Electrical Appliances.* Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment an instrument on board the ERS-2 satellite.* Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 an instrument on the MetOp-A satellite....
-2) - SPEX - Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration
Previous missions/projects
- BeppoSAXBeppoSAXBeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy which played a crucial role in resolving the origin of gamma-ray bursts , the most energetic events known in the universe...
- IRASIRASThe Infrared Astronomical Satellite was the first-ever space-based observatory to perform a survey of the entire sky at infrared wavelengths....
- ISOInfrared Space ObservatoryThe Infrared Space Observatory was a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency , in cooperation with ISAS and NASA...
(& SWS) - ANSAstronomical Netherlands SatelliteThe Astronomical Netherlands Satellite was a space-based X-ray and ultraviolet telescope. It was launched into Earth orbit on 30 August 1974 at 14:07:39 UTC in a Scout rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, United States...
Technology development
In various wavelength areas SRON’s sensors are already some of the most sensitive in the world. However, SRON is continuously looking for new ways to deploy even more sensitive sensors for the improved detection of cosmic radiation or for measurements of the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets. This requires longterm investments in the development of new sensors, electronics and specialist techniques. In the near future detectors shall increasingly take the shape of large chips with many megapixels, with a unique combination of two dimensional pictures and spectroscopy color resolving power.These detectors require the development of new advanced electronics, smart control software, extreme cooling techniques and novel materials. Moreover, SRON has considerable experience in the area of mechanical constructions and electronics for applications in space. SRON has the necessary knowledge, experience and lithographical and other facilities to realise this and to work in accordance with the most stringent requirements that prevail in space technology.
SRON is working hard on the development of a new generation of detectors, and the necessary read-out and control electronics, for international missions in the submillimeter and far-infrared areas. For example, such extremely sensitive detectors are needed in SPICA/ SAFARI so that we can learn more about protoplanetary discs and the formation of planets. For SPICA/ SAFARI SRON is currently working on Transition Edge Sensors (TES).