ESA projects

The Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences has been cooperating with the European Space Agency (ESA), an international organisation for space research and exploration, for many years. Within this cooperation, the Institute is involved in three projects. Two of them, CZPAD and ZOE, are part of the scientific programme of the Czech astronaut’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The third project, ESADOS, focuses on supporting radiation dosimetry in aviation.

CZPAD

Czech Personal Active Dosimeter

The CZPAD project is a dosimetric experiment of the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences selected by the European Space Agency for the scientific programme of the Czech astronaut’s mission to the ISS. The aim of the experiment is to test a new personal dosimetric system based on the SPACEDOS detector and to verify its ability to measure doses of cosmic radiation in real time.

The experiment focuses primarily on measuring the neutron component of cosmic radiation, which represents a significant radiation risk for astronauts. During the mission, the astronaut will wear several personal dosimeters placed on different parts of the body, with their positions changing between individual days.

The measured data will be displayed using a Dosimeter Display Unit (DDU) in the form of a wristwatch, which will be used in space for the first time. The results of the CZPAD project will contribute to improving personal dosimetry methods and enhancing astronaut safety during long-duration crewed missions, such as future missions to the Moon or Mars.

ZOE

The ZOE project is a biological experiment of the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences selected by the European Space Agency as part of the scientific programme of the Czech astronaut’s mission to the ISS. Its objective is to determine whether proper early embryonic development of vertebrates, leading to sexual fertility, can occur under conditions of microgravity and increased cosmic radiation.

The experiment focuses on key developmental processes, in particular the formation, migration, and settlement of primordial germ cells, studied using the domestic chicken as a model organism. For the implementation of the experiment, a special transport box called LIVET will be developed to ensure the safe transport of eggs to and from the ISS and to provide controlled incubation conditions.

The experiment will be carried out aboard the ISS in the Columbus module, using the KUBIK incubator. After return to Earth, the samples will be analysed in detail under laboratory conditions. The results of the ZOE project will contribute to a better understanding of biological processes in the space environment and to the preparation of future long-duration crewed missions beyond low Earth orbit.

ESADOS

ESA Support for Aircrew Dosimetry Services

The ESADOS project, launched in 2025, aims to improve the provision of radiation dosimetry services for aircraft crews. You can find more infromation about this project HERE.

Content prepared based on information available on the Česká cesta do vesmíru website (ceskacestadovesmiru.cz).