SRON’s mission is to bring about breakthroughs in international space research. Therefore the institute develops pioneering technology and advanced space instruments, and uses them to pursue fundamental astrophysical research, Earth science and exoplanetary research. As national expertise institute SRON gives counsel to the Dutch government and coordinates - from a science standpoint - national contributions to international space missions. SRON stimulates the implementation of space science in our society.
Part of NWO
The institute focuses on astrophysics, Earth-oriented research, and planetary science. In addition, SRON develops highly sensitive sensors for X-ray and infrared radiation, designed to serve as satellite instruments.
SRON has two main locations: one in Leiden and one on the Zernike Campus in Groningen. The labs in Leiden and Groningen are equipped with state-of-the-art cleanrooms for nanolithography, assembly, and for optical testing and calibration of flight models, including in vacuum conditions. Our cleanroom in Groningen is set up as a space simulator with a control room to test cameras for the PLATO mission. In both Leiden and Groningen, SRON has various cryostats for cooling superconducting detectors to 0.5 or even 0.1 Kelvin. SRON also has electronics labs, optical labs, and well-equipped workshops for the ultra-precise fabrication of hardware using milling machines.
