Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre

Service
Software
Research
Education
On-board & ground software
Ground segment & equipment
Instruments & payload
Analysis & test services
Optics & photonics

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) is an internationally recognised space centre, which owns space infrastructure and conducts high-quality astronomical research, innovation, commercialisation and knowledge transfer.

More than 75 experts of VIRAC implement international projects and welcome national and international cooperation to drive the development of the global space sector.

VIRAC is led by the mission to contribute to the global space sector as:

  • a research and development expert hub in astronomy and space technology;
  • a creator of internationally competitive and visionary space experts;
  • a host and operator of space infrastructure for science and industry;
  • a supporter of the Latvian space industry growth and the driver of its internationalisation.

TECHNOLOGIES AND COMPETENCES

VIRAC is a contributor to global space research and exploration networks as a host and operator of the Latvian space ground infrastructure: the Irbenes radio telescope, which is equipped with two completely rotatable, parabolic antennas “RT-32” and “RT-16”, as well as the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope.

Moreover, VIRAC develops space exploration hardware and software as well as delivers space and STEM education services. More than 75 experts of VIRAC implement international projects and welcome national and international cooperation to drive the development of the global space sector.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN SPACE

  • astronomy and astrophysics (research, education and services)
  • engineering and technical operations of the radio telescopes and antennas
  • electronics and satellite technology, incl. space environment simulation
  • high performance computing clusters for signal and data processing
  • remote sensing and signal discrete processing

EQUIPMENT

  • 32m and 16m fully steerable Cassegrain antennas; LOFAR radio telescope; antennas for secure satellite communications and tracking; antenna hosting and maintenance;
  • laboratories: satellite technology engineering and testing, rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM laboratory with additive manufacturing, Digital Radio Antenna Research (DART), RF, electronics, signal processing, etc.;

MAJOR SPACE PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • A member of European VLBI Network, Joint Institute for VLBI, European Research Infrastructure Consortium;
  • A member of the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) consortia; LOFAR-ERIC consortium (ILEC) is planned in 2022 and LOFAR 2.0 in 2024

CURRENT AND TARGET PARTNERSHIP

  • VIRAC cooperates with various Latvian, Baltic and foreign higher education institutions and organizations to implement various projects, to contribute the development of the sector (studies in industrial mathematics, prototyping, telecommunication, satellite navigation, ionosphere, etc.), as well as training and experience of students in doctoral and physics departments.
  • We welcome international cooperation in the fields of VIRAC expertise as well as radiointerferometric studies with the EVN network partners, which is currently particularlytopical.
Total employees80
Inzenieru street 101
+37163629656
Contact persons: Mārcis Donerblics marcis.donerblics@venta.lv