Space research at FHNW
since 2002
School of Computer Science
School of Engineering and Environment
▻Science – heliophysics, solar flares, space weather
▻Hardware – from specialized components to fully equipped space telescopes
▻Software – huge data sets, AI based image processing, complex software architectures
▻Public engagement – giving back to society
Switzerland has a long tradition of space research and hosts a diverse space ecosystem that encompasses both the academic and industrial sectors. FHNW has been part of it since 2002.
Space technology consists largely of individual, custom-made components. In the space sector, basic research and applied development go hand in hand. Scientists must have detailed knowledge of the technology behind the instruments they co-develop. The same applies to engineers, who must thoroughly understand the research conducted using the instruments they co-design.
At FHNW, space research is thriving thanks to a relatively small and experienced interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and software experts who work closely together on a single campus equipped with its own laboratories and testing facilities. Close ties to the local and national space industry are another key to success.
Swiss space research is funded by public funds: through the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the European Framework Programs, ESA and SERI. We strive to share what we do, how we do it and the results of it with everyone through our public engagement program. We want to give something back from the exciting fields of research in which we have the privilege of working.
Three examples of research activities
Science, hardware, software, public engagement
Solar Orbiter
Sun
Solar Orbiter is ESA’s space mission launched in 2021 for studying the Sun up close to answer some profound questions: What drives the Sun’s 11-year cycle? What heats up its atmosphere to millions of degrees? How does solar wind form and accelerate? And how does it all affect our planet?
FHNW’s team of scientists and engineers built the X-ray telescope STIX, together with partners from the industry. It is one of ten instruments on board Solar Orbiter and FHNW’s biggest space project so far. After five years of operations, it still works like a charm. Now, FHNW’s heliophysics-team analyses the data. It has become one of the leading science teams in x-ray heliophysics.
Science, hardware, software, public engagement
Smile
Space weather
Smile is a Chinese-European space telescope launched in 2026. It takes images and movies from outside of Earth’s protective magnetic shield. It uses four science instruments to study how Earth responds to the changing stream of particles from the Sun – the solar wind. This will improve our understanding of solar storms, geomagnetic storms and the science of space weather.
FHNW contributed the thermal design of the X-ray instrument SXI, in close collaboration with the Swiss industry. It also developed the imaging software and now conducts data analysis and interpretation.
Software, public engagement
Euclid
Dark Universe
Euclid is ESA’s deep space telescope launched in 2023. It observes the acceleration of the Universe to better understand dark energy and dark matter. The complete survey will collect billions of images of extremely far away galaxies. Euclid is a big project with a very complex IT architecture and thousands of scientists and engineers working on it.
Under the leadership of the University of Geneva, FHNW significantly contributes to the data processing infrastructure and develops image analysis methodologies using machine learning and AI.
Contact
Prof. Dr. André Csillaghy
School of Computer Science
andre.csillaghy@fhnw.ch
Prof. Dr. Säm Krucker
School of Computer Science
samuel.krucker@fhnw.ch
Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Gröbelbauer
School of Engineering and Environment
hanspeter.groebelbauer@fhnw.ch
Address
FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Bahnhofstrasse 6
5210 Windisch