Jayawardhana leads key work package in consortium for distributed space systems: discovering the last unexplored region of the cosmos

The SPace-based Interferometry Network (SPIN) project, funded by NWO’s Partnerships for Space Instruments & Applications Preparatory Programme (PIPP), unites 13 Dutch organizations to develop breakthrough technologies for space-based radio telescopes. These telescopes will target the last unexplored region of the cosmos, unobservable from Earth due to atmospheric interference, using low-frequency radio waves (0.1–80 MHz).

Bayu Jayawardhana, representing the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG) at the University of Groningen, serves as work package leader for "control and positioning", collaborating closely with SRON. This partnership not only advances the project’s goals but also strengthens the existing strategic collaboration between ENTEG and SRON, fostering long-term innovation in space technology.
Jayawardhana's team will focus on achieving robust and fault-tolerant autonomous formation of satellites through distributed formation control and sensor fusion. Additionally, they will develop methods for distributed positioning and pose estimation of the satellite cluster, ensuring robust performance. ENTEG will employ a postdoc researcher to contribute to these critical advancements in space science and technology, while supporting innovation in navigation, communication, autonomy, and multi-satellite mission design.

The SPIN consortium project brings together 13 Dutch organizations, including six universities, such as Radboud Radio Lab (RRL) and ASTRON, and several companies and research and institutes. Partners range from technical universities and research centers to space, defense, and aerospace organizations, forming a broad national consortium focused on space-based interferometry.

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