Dutch research into instruments for science in space began around 1960, shortly after the launch of Sputnik, when astronomers realised that space exploration could help answer the big questions of space research.
Forerunners of SRON
Three forerunners of SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands then want instruments in space for research. Henk van de Hulst establishes the Commission for Geophysics and Space Research in Leiden in 1960. Kees de Jager follows in Utrecht in 1961 with the Working Group on Space Research of Sun and Stars which later becomes the Laboratory for Space Research, and in Groningen Jan Borgman starts the working group on photometry around 1965. It is the beginning of a development in which Dutch space researchers will build a great reputation worldwide, with their work on pioneering satellites. At first mainly for astrophysics, but soon also for atmospheric monitoring.
Astrophysics space instruments history in the Netherlands
Launched in August 1974, the Astronomical Dutch Satellite ANS studies the night sky in UV and X-ray, leading to the discovery of X-ray flashes. The InfraRed Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), launched in 1983, was the first to study the sky in infrared.
In 1983, the launch year of IRAS, several laboratories merged to form Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland (SRON) with sites in Groningen and Utrecht.
More missions follow with the Netherlands playing an important role in science and instrumentation: the Compton GammaRay Observatory for gamma rays (NASA, 1991), the infrared mission ISO (ESA, 1995) and far-infrared mission Herschel (ESA, 2009). The X-ray missions BeppoSAX (ASI, 1996), Chandra (NASA, 1999), XMM-Newton (ESA, 1999) and Hitomi (JAXA 2016).
Earth observation space instruments history in the Netherlands
Calls for scientific instruments in space for atmospheric monitoring are getting louder and louder. Dutch knowledge institutions including SRON are making the Netherlands a global leader with contributions to satellites.
The SCIAMACHY instrument on the Envisat (ESA,2002) and the OMI instrument on the Aura satellite (NASA, 2004), and the pioneering instrument TROPOMI on the Sentinel-5p (ESA, 2017), for example.
In 2022, the now world-leading Dutch expertise with atmospheric monitoring at SRON, KNMI, TU Delft and TNO converge in the Clear Air consortium, which leads the way to more atmospheric knowledge and monitoring, providing a roadmap for future instrumentation.
The name SRON
The Dutch name Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland was changed in 2005 to SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and in 2025 to SRON, Space Research Organisation Netherlands. SRON has been based in Groningen and Leiden since 2021.