Netherlands Institute for Space Research

SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research
Ruimteonderzoeksinstituut SRON
	SRON, Leiden; 2021
Agency overview
Abbreviation	SRON
Formed	1983; 41 years ago
Type	Space agency
Headquarters	Leiden
Administrator	Michael Wise (Scientific Director)
Employees	250
Website	www.sron.nl

SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) is the Dutch national institute for space research. It develops and uses technology for analysis in space, This includes astrophysical research, Earth observation, and exoplanetary research. The SRON research focuses on sensors designed to detect X-rays, infrared radiation, and visible light.

SRON was founded in 1983 under the name Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland (SRON; lit. transl. Foundation Space-Research Netherlands) as part of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), consisting of space labs in Leiden, Utrecht, and Groningen. Later, the Leiden lab merged with the Utrecht location. By 2005, this institute was renamed SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research. In 2021, the Utrecht lab was relocated back to Leiden. Since then, SRON has been headquartered in Leiden with additional facilities in the city of Groningen.

Science and technology

The institute has over 250 staff members who are employed across four program lines: Astrophysics, Earth observation, Exoplanets, and Technology, and two groups of expertise: Engineering and Instrument science.

Technology

SRON's mission is to develop state-of-the-art satellite instruments to be used in space research missions for the European Space Agency (ESA), the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other space agencies. SRON technology has contributed to multiple space missions including 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's atmosphere (SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT and TROPOMI). It is working on missions that will study planets beyond the Solar System. Some examples of future missions that SRON will contribute to are: Athena (X-ray), LISA (gravitational waves), PLATO (exoplanets), GUSTO (infrared), and PACE (Earth observation).

Missions and projects

Current missions or projects with SRON contribution

The instruments contributed by SRON for each missions are listed in parentheses.

Athena (X-IFU)
Chandra (Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETG))
XMM-Newton (Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS))
INTEGRAL
CO2M
HUBS
POEMM
XRISM (Resolve Soft X-Ray Spectrometer)
LOFT
ALMA (2 Band Receivers)
Sentinel-5p (TROPOMI)
Sentinel 5 (Immersed Gratings)
MetOp (GOME-2)
GUSTO (8-pixel camera)
ARIEL
PLATO
PACE (SPEXone)
LISA (Quadrant Photo Receivers; Mechanism Control Unit)

Previous missions/projects

BeppoSAX
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (COMPTEL)
Hitomi (High-Resolution Soft X-Ray Spectrometer)
IRAS
ISO (Short Wave Spectrometer)
Astronomical Netherlands Satellite
GOCE
ERS-2
Herschel (HIFI)
Envisat (SCIAMACHY)

Technology development

SRON has developed sensors to detect certain wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Research is being undertaken to further improve the sensitivity of these sensors as this will result in improved cosmic radiation detection and better measurements of the Earth's atmosphere. Continuous long-term investments are required to ensure the development of new sensors, electronics, and specialist techniques.

In the near future, sensors are expected to resemble large chips with the capacity of many megapixels, a unique combination of two-dimensional pictures, and spectroscopy color-resolving power.

These sensors require the development of advanced electronics, smart control software, cooling techniques, and novel materials. SRON develops a new generation of detectors and the necessary read-out and control electronics for international missions in the sub-millimeter and far-infrared areas. For instance, SRON is developing Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID) for research in visible light (exoplanets) and far-infrared (star-forming clouds). For the Athena mission, SRON is working on Transition Edge Sensors (TES).

National and international partners

In the Netherlands, SRON contributed to the Utrecht University research on atmospheric methane levels.^[1]

SRON's international partners include European Space Agency and NASA. SRON has cooperated with the German Aerospace Center (DLR),^[2] contributed to the James Webb Space Telescope program,^[3] and the GUSTO (telescope) project.^[4]

Directors

Johan Bleeker (1985–2003)^[5]
Karel Wakker [nl] (2003–2009)^[6]
Roel Gathier (2009–2010) (interim)^[6]
Rens Waters (2010–2019)^[7]
Michael Wise (2019–...)^[8]

References

^ "Breakthrough in debate on recent increase in atmospheric methane – News". Utrecht University. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
^ Hoogeveen, R. W. M.; Yagoubov, P. A.; de Lange, A.; Selig, A. M.; Koshelets, V. P.; Ellison, B. N.; Birk, M. (October 2005). Meynart, Roland; Neeck, Steven P.; Shimoda, Haruhisa (eds.). "Superconducting integrated receiver development for TELIS". Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites IX. Proceedings of the SPIE. Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites IX. 5978: 440–450. Bibcode:2005SPIE.5978..440H. doi:10.1117/12.627660. S2CID 55409308. TELIS (TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder) is a cooperation between European institutes, DLR, RAL, and SRON, to build a three-channel balloon-borne heterodyne spectrometer for atmospheric research.
^ "Institutional Partners Webb/NASA". webb.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
^ "GUSTO arrived on Antarctica". TU Delft. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
^ "Prof.dr.ir. JAM Bleeker" (in Dutch). Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Algemeen directeur Karel Wakker verlaat SRON" (in Dutch). Netherlands Institute for Space Research. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
^ "New directorate at space research institute SRON". Netherlands Institute for Space Research. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
^ "Michael Wise new Director General at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research". Dutch Research Council (NWO). 20 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

External links

Official website

[1] "Breakthrough in debate on recent increase in atmospheric methane – News". Utrecht University. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2024-02-25.

[2] Hoogeveen, R. W. M.; Yagoubov, P. A.; de Lange, A.; Selig, A. M.; Koshelets, V. P.; Ellison, B. N.; Birk, M. (October 2005). Meynart, Roland; Neeck, Steven P.; Shimoda, Haruhisa (eds.). "Superconducting integrated receiver development for TELIS". Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites IX. Proceedings of the SPIE. Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites IX. 5978: 440–450. Bibcode:2005SPIE.5978..440H. doi:10.1117/12.627660. S2CID 55409308. TELIS (TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder) is a cooperation between European institutes, DLR, RAL, and SRON, to build a three-channel balloon-borne heterodyne spectrometer for atmospheric research.

[3] "Institutional Partners Webb/NASA". webb.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-25.

[4] "GUSTO arrived on Antarctica". TU Delft. Retrieved 2024-02-25.

[5] "Prof.dr.ir. JAM Bleeker" (in Dutch). Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Retrieved 13 May 2023.

[wakker-6] "Algemeen directeur Karel Wakker verlaat SRON" (in Dutch). Netherlands Institute for Space Research. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

[7] "New directorate at space research institute SRON". Netherlands Institute for Space Research. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

[8] "Michael Wise new Director General at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research". Dutch Research Council (NWO). 20 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

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