🚀 NVR Visit to TNO – Delft | 29 January 2026
On January 29th, around 50 NVR members enjoyed a diverse and highly informative visit to TNO’s impressive facilities at Stieltjesweg in Delft.
We were warmly welcomed by our hosts Ton Maree and Jill Schoonenboom with refreshments and sandwitches. Ton opened the afternoon with an inspiring overview of TNO’s 60-year heritage in space, spanning science, Earth Observation, secure data, Quantum Communication via Space, and optical communications.
This was followed by Thomas Liebig, who presented the Ultra-Air airborne optical communications project. Working with Airbus as prime contractor, TNO designed, built and tested a laser communication terminal for aircraft, capable of transmitting terabits of data per second to the TDP-1 satellite (EDRS precursor) in GEO. The presentation sparked many in-depth questions from the NVR audience!
We then split into four groups for behind-the-scenes tours of TNO’s facilities, guided by Nienke, Mariet, Shobhit, and Benjamin, who shared insights into:
- Quantum Communication via Space
- Optical mirror fabrication
- Astronomy and deformable mirrors
- TNO’s Earth Observation mission heritage and future
The tours generated lively discussions that continued during the networking borrel afterwards.
The evening was closed by NVR Chair Pieter van Beekhuizen, who thanked everyone at TNO for their openness and for demonstrating how TNO’s technology and scientific leadership continues to make a major impact in the space sector.
🙏 Thank you to all involved for an inspiring visit!
