CNR-IFN operates for the national and international scientific community active in astrophysics and earth observation as well as in enabling technologies for space and aerospace, collaborating with companies that are active in the space and aerospace sectors.

Regarding the realization of instrumentation for earth-based and satellite observations, the Institute is involved:

–          design, analysis and calibration of optical and spectroscopic instrumentation for satellite observations (such as stereoscopic cameras, spectrometers, solar coronagraphs)

–          development, testing, characterization and qualification of thin films for space applications (such as coatings for mirrors, filters, polarizers, gratings) from extreme ultraviolet to infrared, with particular expertise in measuring degradation in the space environment

–          development of adaptive optics (such as mirrors and lenses) for use on instrumentation for astrophysics

–          development of gas detection techniques for astrobiology experiments in extra-terrestrial atmospheres.

CNR-IFN researchers provide technical-scientific support both for the design, construction and calibration of space instrumentation and to the observation strategy during the mission and to the analysis of acquired scientific data. CNR-IFN has participated and is participating with flight instruments in many space missions of the European Space Agency. Instrumentation realized with the contribution of CNR-IFN operated on board the SOHO (UVCS coronagraph spectrometer) and ESA Rosetta (WAC camera) satellites. CNR-IFN is participating in the active missions currently in flight BepiColombo (Phebus spectrometer and STC stereo camera) and Solar Orbiter (METIS coronagraph). He is involved in the approved missions Ariel (telescope), Comet Interceptor (camera fisheye EnVisS) and Solar C (EUVST spectrometer).

As part of the production of active and passive components in the aerospace and space fields, CNR-IFN is active in the construction of kinetic inductance detector arrays (KIDs) for the detection of cosmic background radiation in experiments on stratospheric balloons and in space. In particular, the arrays of KIDs detectors manufactured by CNR-IFN were the first in the world to have operated in a quasi-space environment during the flight on a stratospheric balloon of the ASI-OLIMPO experiment in 2018. Moreover, the Institute has expertise in design of the electronic reading chain of anti-coincidence detectors for space missions, in the development of solar optical reflectors with variable emissivity with temperature for surfaces exposed to the space environment and in the development of amplifiers for space radar applications with GaN technology.

The activities are developed in the context of national and international collaborations, with the involvement of ASI – Italian Space Agency, ESA – European Space Agency, INAF, Universities (Rome La Sapienza, Genoa, Padua), Thales Alenia Space, Leonardo SpA, OHB Italy, MediaLario, Officina Stellare spa.