| SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research | |
| Native Name: | Ruimteonderzoeksinstituut SRON |
| Acronym: | SRON |
| Size: | 250px |
| Headquarters: | Leiden |
| Employees: | 250 |
| Administrator: | Michael Wise (Scientific Director) |
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;) 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.
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.
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).
The instruments contributed by SRON for each missions are listed in parentheses.
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).
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]