Is the earth unique? Or can you find planets like ours everywhere in the universe? ESA’s new space telescope Plato sets out to investigate this. The Dutch space research institute SRON contributed to the mission, with advantages for Dutch astronomers. In a line-up of space telescopes, Plato stands out immediately. Behind a large solar panel … Continued
For the first time since 1972, humans are returning to the moon this year. Tonight at 00:24 Dutch time, NASA is launching the Artemis II mission, with four astronauts on board who will fly around the moon. The Netherlands made a crucial contribution: the solar panels that power the Orion spacecraft. Two large logos adorn … Continued
Can space technology protect us if an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth? That is one of the questions that ESA’s new space mission Hera must answer. The space probe, packed with Dutch technology, was successfully launched on Monday, October 7. The chance that a large space rock will come straight to Earth … Continued
The NSO and NWO (the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) have awarded more than 2.7 million euros to nine research projects using satellite data: six in the field of earth sciences and three planetary studies. The scientists in the awarded projects will research, among other things, the seafloor topography of the Wadden and North Sea, … Continued
NSO has honored two proposals for new expertise networks: on water research and on planetary research. With the expertise networks programme, the Netherlands invests in scientific cooperation in space. In an expertise network, scientists conduct research in collaboration with experts from the business community or the public sector. Both expertise networks will start this month and will receive €690k. Satellite data for drought, floods and water quality The Netherlands is a … Continued
The launch of the Japanese X-ray telescope XRISM is scheduled for Monday. The Dutch space research institute SRON built, with funding from the NSO, among other things, the telescope’s filter wheel. Ingredients of stars XRISM, the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission in full, is an X-ray telescope developed by the Japanese space agency JAXA in collaboration … Continued
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is one of the largest, one of the most expensive, one of the most ambitious planetary space missions Europe has ever undertaken. It will be launched on April 13 at 2:15 p.m. our time. It will be an exciting day for Dutch engineers and scientists, as they are involved … Continued
Liquid water is one of the most important conditions for life. It’s no surprise that scientists are very interested in water in our solar system: both on planets as on their moons. But how can water flow in icy places like the moons of Jupiter and Saturn? Marc Rovira Navarro investigated it with funding from NWO/NSO at TU Delft. But many … Continued
A Dutch prototype is ready to be built into the test model of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). This ESA space mission, to be launched in 2037, will measure gravitational waves. The TNO research that led to the device was selected for funding of 1.4 million euros by NSO from the budget made available … Continued
With the Partnerships for Space Instruments & Applications Preparatory Programme, the Netherlands is supporting technological breakthroughs and scientific cooperation in space research. The Expertise Network ‘Optical Technology for Exoplanetary Research’ is working on innovative sensors for great discoveries in space. ‘We are working on the telescopes of the future. Telescopes that are used discover exoplanets … Continued
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