Netherlands Institute for Space Research
The SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , formerly called Stichting RuimteOnderzoek Nederland until 2004, is a Dutch organization for the development of scientific instruments for use on satellites and space probes for the purposes of astronomy and earth observation .
SRON was founded in 1983 and is part of the Dutch research organization NWO . It serves as the Dutch center for space exploration and works with international space organizations such as ESA and NASA . The three departments are:
- High energy astrophysics, with participation in projects such as Astronomische Nederlandse Satelliet , COS-B , EXOSAT , Compton Gamma Ray Observatory , BeppoSAX , Chandra and XMM .
- Low energy astrophysics, with participation in projects such as IRAS , ISO , Herschel Space Observatory and ALMA .
- Earth observation, with participation in projects such as ERS / GOME and SCIAMACHY .
SRON maintains laboratories in Utrecht and Groningen and works closely with the universities there, from which parts of SRON's activities also emerged. In 2007 SRON had a total budget of € 19.2 million and 205 employees, half of them scientists.
Geographic coordinates: SRON Groningen , SRON Utrecht