The Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences is the only Polish interdisciplinary research institute with all essential activities focused on conducting research of near Earth space, Solar System bodies, usage of space technologies and satellite techniques. The institute is third in the rank within the N15 group (physics and astronomy), with the effectiveness index of 170,5 and an A category.
One of the main goals of the Space Research Center is to link the newest scientific space discoveries with daily practical applications. The Space Research Center creates solutions and promotes the usage of satellite systems within the national economy in such areas like: navigation, telecommunications and Earth observation.
The prestige and unique character of the Space Research Center can be seen in the participation to many international space missions, the construction of space instruments and research satellite subsystems, and the support of the Polish space industry through education, knowledge and technology transfer.
PRODUCTS:
- Space instruments – roentgen spectrometers, radio spectrometers, thermal sensors, optical Fourier and hyperspectral spectrometers
- Satellite subsystems – power supply systems, onboard computers, mechanical structures and thermal systems, orientation and satellite stabilization system, communication systems, supporting ground systems
- Satellite navigation – precise positioning using GPS, EGNOS and GALILEO reference stations, a precise time transfer system
- Telecommunications – ionosonde with software, determining the status of the ionosphere based on ground observations and GPS
- Earth observation – a semi-automatic change detection system using high resolution photography, terrain classification software using optical and radar photography
SERVICES:
- Satellite platform integration
- Tests of subsystems and small
- Quality control and preparation of documentation
AREAS OF ACTIVITY IN THE SPACE SECTOR:
- Automation, Telepresence & Robotics
- Electromagnetic Technologies and Techniques
- Flight Dynamics & GNSS
- Life & Physical
- Materials & Processes
- Mechanisms & Tribology
- Mission Operation and Ground Data Systems
- On Board Data-Systems
- Optics
- Optoelectronics
- Quality, Dependability and Safety
- RF Payload and Systems
- Space Debris
- Space System Control
- Space System Software
- Spacecraft Electrical Power
- Spacecraft Environment & Effects
- Structures & Pyrotechnics
- System Design & Verification
- Thermal
SPACE PROJECTS:
Main experimental research in the space environment
- wave experiments in plasma around the Earth
- remote (optical and microwave) sensing of planets and other space objects (PFS/MarsExpress, MERTIS/BeppiColombo)
- X-ray investigation of the Sun (STIX/SolarOrbiter)
- direct (in situ) surface and subsurface probing of planets and small Solar System bodies with the help of penetrators and landers (ROSETTA);
Participation to astrophysical research (INTEGRAL gamma ray observatory, HERSCHEL far infrared ray observatory, BRITE – the first Polish scientific satellite); involvement in the usage and development of global satellite navigation systems (GPS, Egnoss, Galileo), observations of satellites in Earth orbit.
Most of the work is conducted in Warsaw, Solar research is being done in the Wrocław department of the Space Research Centter (Solar Physics Division), work on the Atomic Time Scale and satellite observations are carried out in the Borowiec Astrogeodynamic Observatory.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS:
- Solar physics (Wrocław branch)
- Studying planets and small Solar System bodies
- Interplanetary space physics and astrophysics
- Plasma physics
- Planetary geodesy and geodynamics
- Earth observation
LABORATORIES AND TECHNICAL FACILITIES:
Electronic, optical and mechanical laboratories with workstations for 40 persons. A mechanical workshop with 8 manufacturing machines (3 CNC ones), a vacuum chamber, environmental chambers, clean room chambers, an emc laboratory. A Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Station, an ionosonde, Time and Frequency Services, the BOR-1 station, the CBKA ASG-EUPOS station, a mobile GNSS laboratory, the Regional Warning Center.
CLIENTS AND PARTNERS
- ESA
- NASA
- CNES
- Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- European Commission
- DLR Berlin
- DLR Oberpfaffenhofen
- DLR Bremen
- IKI RAN
- IZMIRAN
- IRF Uppsala
- INRF Rome
- CRNS Grenoble
- University of Massachusetts
- GeoPlanet
- Gdynia Maritime University
- EADS Astrium
- GMV
- Sener
- Telespazio
- Bumar
- WB Electronics
- Creotech
- Astri Polska
