Netherlands Institute for Space Research

The Space Research Organisation Netherlands, known as SRON, is the Dutch national institute for space research, focused on astrophysics, Earth observation and exoplanetary research, and it also develops new detection techniques for X-rays, infrared radiation and visible light, giving council to the Dutch government and coordinating national contributions to international space missions. One of its predecessors, the Laboratorium voor Ruimteonderzoek, was founded in 1961 in Utrecht, and in 1983 it joined the space labs in Leiden and Groningen to form what became Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland as part of the Dutch Research Council; the organization was renamed SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research by 2005 and Space Research Organisation Netherlands in 2025, and since a 2021 relocation it has been headquartered in Leiden with additional facilities in Groningen.