Professor Minnaert measured elements in the Sun. Professor Oort proved that the Milky Way rotates. They demonstrated all of this from Earth. When Sputnik became the first satellite in space in 1957, the leading astronomers in the Netherlands were not about to be left behind…
It is now 65 years since SRON’s predecessors launched Dutch space research. We are marking this occasion throughout the year with the ‘The Story of SRON’ timeline on our website.
In October 1961, the Laboratory for Space Research was established in Utrecht. A year later, the Cosmic Radiation Working Group was set up in Leiden, whilst the Photometry Working Group was founded in Groningen in 1965.
These three laboratories would merge in 1983 to form the Stichting Ruimte Onderzoek Nederland (SRON), now known as Space Research Organisation Netherlands (SRON).
The early space researchers made the scientific leap into space by combining technology and theory in rocket and balloon experiments and satellite missions. There was so much we did not yet know. And so much knowledge has been unlocked since then.
Throughout our anniversary year, until 1 October 2027, we’ll be sharing more stories about this history on our website every month. On the page ‘The Story of SRON’, we’ll take you on a journey through decades of pioneering space research.
Do take a look at the website to see how our story begins.
