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Solar instrument five years in space
4 April 2013 - The space instrument SOLAR / SOLSPEC celebrates its 5th anniversary since its launch. This Franco-Belgian unit measures the amount of solar radiation (solar flux) from space.
SOLSPEC is an updated version of an older instrument that already participated 5 times in space missions over the past 30 years. This new version is designed for long-term space missions.
SOLSPEC is integrated in the SOLAR platform that is mounted on the exterior of the European Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS). The instrument performs solar measurements regularly, giving scientists a long series of measurements for research on climate and solar physics. The mission will last until 2017.
ESA’s new Space Weather Centre Opens in Brussels
3 April 2013 - This morning the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence (STCE) formally inaugurated the Space Weather Service Coordination Centre (SSCC).
It is the first such centre to be opened under the Agency’s Space Situational Awareness programme. The new Space Weather Coordination Centre will serve as the central access point to a portfolio of European space weather expertise.
Located at the ‘Space Pole’ in Brussels, the Space Weather Coordination Centre (SSCC) includes the first European space weather helpdesk and, through this, rapid access to expert support on:
- solar weather
- ionospheric weather
- geomagnetic environment
- orbital radiation environment
This is made possible by networking and building on key European assets and expertise.
EPT on the Proba-V satellite
26 March 2013 - The Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) is a compact and modular ionizing particle spectrometer that was designed using a new concept and the most advanced signal processing technologies.
The instrument:
- will be measuring particle fluxes in the space environment
- is integrated on the Belgian PROBA-V-satellite
(launch : April 2013)
The design of this instrument results from a fruitful collaboration between BIRA-IASB and UCL (Université Catholique de Louvain-La-Neuve).
More on http://ept.aeronomie.be
10000 users
27 February 2013 - 10000 registered users for our operational space weather tool SPENVIS!
Consisting of a web interface, it is used by engineers in defining space missions and designing space instruments. SPENVIS allows an initial analysis of problems associated with the space environment and its effects.
Live UV index Antarctica
31 January 2013 - In 2007, Belgium started the construction of a new 0-emission research station in Antarctica: Princess Elisabeth Station.
By the end of 2012, the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) has deployed its UV-B and UV-A and pyranometer sensors for the measurement of the global solar irradiation in the UV and visible wavelength ranges.
Today the measured data are available on http://uvindex.aeronomie.be. They are important for our research concerning the stratospheric ozone layer that protects the Earth’s biosphere from a large part of the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Sun.
News & press releases 2012
