Space instruments are at the core of the usefulness and benefits of space activities. Data (including observations, signals) from space instruments are useful for a variety of applications in many fields of science, society and economy. Examples abound, including Earth’s climate change, astronomy, cosmology, planetary research, societal security, environment, biodiversity, Sustainable Development Goals, and many more.
The Netherlands have a long standing tradition in the development of space instruments, particularly in the optical domain, but upcoming microwave/radio domain as well. The Dutch space ecosystem, including science institutes and industry, comprises state-of-the-art research and development in both these fields. These organisations have a long history in collaboration in national and international consortia.
Within the context of the Dutch national space policy and funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW), the objective of the Space Instruments Program (IOP) is to maintain, strengthen, and broaden the position and expertise of the Netherlands in the field of space instrumentation, driven by the needs and requirements of the users. Therefore, this program supports the development of – technology for – future (scientific) space instruments that are of national scientific relevance and interest, and that are complementary to developments in other programmatic contexts such as those of European or other space agencies