Netherlands Institute for Space Research

SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) is a national Dutch institute for space research. It develops and uses innovative technology for analysis in space, focusing on astrophysical research, Earth observation, and exoplanetary research. SRON research includes new and more advanced sensors for 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 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 in four program lines—Astrophysics, Earth observation, Exoplanets, Technology––and two expertise groups––Engineering and Instrument science.

Technology
SRON's mission is to act as a leading institute in developing state-of-the-art satellite instruments for space research missions of ESA, NASA, and other agencies. Through the years, SRON technology has contributed to 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's atmosphere (SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT and TROPOMI). The institute is also working on missions that will study other planets beyond the Solar System. Examples of future missions to which SRON will contribute to are Athena (X-ray), LISA (gravitational waves), PLATO (exoplanets), GUSTO (infrared) and PACE (Earth observation).

Current missions or projects with SRON contribution
SRON instruments are named 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
In various wavelengths, 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 measurements of the atmosphere of Earth and other planets. This requires long-term 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 and 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. SRON is developing 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 example, 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.

SRON international partners include European Space Agency and NASA. Notably, SRON has cooperated with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), contributed to the James Webb Space Telescope program and GUSTO (telescope) project.

Directors

 * Johan Bleeker (1985–2003)
 * (2003–2009)
 * Roel Gathier (2009–2010) (interim)
 * Rens Waters (2010–2019)
 * Michael Wise (2019-...)