CBK PAN – Centrum Badań Kosmicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Centrum Badań Kosmicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk (CBK PAN) was established in 1977. Since then it has been conducting pure and applied studies based on space experiments in the field of space physics and Solar System research, and physical and geodesic studies of planets and the Earth. The Centre is the only institution in Poland whose a
ctivity is fully devoted to space research and its applications in geosciences and technology. The five main research fields of activity at CBK PAN are: Sun physics, study of planets and small solar system bodies, interplanetary space physics and astrophysics, plasma physics, planetary geodesy and geodynamics, Earth observation. Since the foundation researchers and engineers participated in over 50 space missions constructing over 60 unique instruments for space missions. The first devices were built under the Intercosmos program and were placed on the Soviet satellites (JONOSONDA, ACTIVE, APEX projects) and the space station MIR (device VIEWFINDER for the Priroda module). Since 1991, the Centre has cooperated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and has been participating in its missions by designing and constructing instruments for the space missions, all of which meet the requirements and standards imposed by the ESA, CNES or NASA. In the last two decades SRC PAS participated in such important projects as: Cassini-Huygens, Mars Express, Venus Express Integral, Rosetta, Herschel, Bepi-Colombo, the European Space Agency missions Koronas-F, Koronas-I, Koronas-FOTON, Phobos Sample Return (Russian Space Agency), and Taranis DEMETER (French Space Agency). The Centre also worked with NASA on the IBEX mission and with India on the Chandrayaan mission. In addition to constructing instruments for the missions, CBK PAN is also developing new space technologies in areas such as: FPGA systems, Fourier spectrometers, spectral imaging systems, planetary penetrometers, ultra-light manipulators, sample return subsystems, antennas, tribology. CBK PAN is also involved in: developing satellite applications for land surface monitoring and conducting satellite observations of border areas of the European Union, using satellite navigation and Earth observation in emergency situations, creating integrated space applications, and participating in European Space Situational Awareness program. The results of all space experiments performed by the teams have been presented in many scientific publications in international and national journals and conference proceedings. CBK PAN has around 50 co-operating partners both in Poland and abroad and is visited each year by around 200 foreign researchers.
