World premiere: Successful laser beam experiment at Lustbühel Observatory 10.05.2012

IWF Graz sends laser photons via satellit to Switzerland

For the first time, the SLR station of IWF Graz sent laser photons via satellite to the SLR station Zimmerwald in Switzerland. Strong laser pulses were transmitted from Graz to the “ENVISAT” satellite in about 800 km altitude and photons reflected by the satellite’s surface were received in both Graz and Zimmerwald.

Further information is found in an IWF Press Release of 10 May 2012.

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JUICE is Europe’s next large science mission 03.05.2012

ESA selects Jupiter mission with contribution from Graz

JUICE is the first Large-class mission chosen as part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme. IWF Graz participates with three instruments.

Further information is found in an IWF Press Release of 3 May 2012.

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New findings about Venus 06.04.2012

IWF scientist discovers magnetic reconnection at our neighboring planet

IWF scientist Tielong Zhang explains in a study, which was published online in "Science" on 5 April, that the Venus Express magnetometer discovered for the first time magnetic reconnection in the Venusian magnetotail.

Further information is found in an IWF Press Release of 6 April 2012.

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