A diamond-based quantum sensor on the ISS

A diamond-based quantum sensor developed at UHasselt in collaboration with UCLouvain and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy will accompany Belgian astronaut Raphaël Liégeois on the International Space Station (ISS). The aim? To carry out fundamental research into the behaviour of molecules in microgravity. The aim? To gain a better understanding of the effects of weightlessness on biological systems such as the human body and plants.

At the end of 2026, Belgian astronaut Raphaël Liégeois of the European Space Agency (ESA) will embark on his first space mission, carrying a diamond-based quantum sensor for astrochemical research to the International Space Station (ISS). Developed by the OSCAR team at Hasselt University in collaboration with UCLouvain and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), this quantum sensor will spend 6 months researching the behaviour of light-sensitive molecules in microgravity.

"With this technology, we can monitor how these photoactive molecules react and return to their original state, whether through changes in acidity (pH levels) or through the formation of radicals", explains Ludovic Troian-Gautier, FNRS-qualified researcher at UCLouvain and WEL Research Institute investigator. Through this research at the crossroads of physics and chemistry, the scientists aim to acquire new fundamental knowledge about the behaviour of molecular processes in zero gravity. "The results of this study could contribute to a better understanding of the wider effects of weightlessness in space on biological systems, such as the human body or plants. This knowledge is crucial, particularly for space exploration, which aims to send people deeper into space for longer periods. This type of research also presents a new way of using quantum sensors in space exploration".

This research is based on technology developed by UHasselt, which already placed a magnetometer on board the ISS in 2021. For ten months, this tool mapped the magnetic field around the Earth. The scientists demonstrated that this magnetometer works in all circumstances, including the harsh conditions of space.

With this new Belgian collaboration, UHasselt, UCLouvain and BIRA-IASB combine the scientific expertise of the federal government, Flanders and Wallonia. "This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to make a greater contribution to the research landscape in Belgium and internationally, with highly motivated and stimulating research partners. This unique opportunity will enable us to better understand the reactivity of radicals formed during irradiation, an aspect that is at the heart of our research developed at UCLouvain", concludes Ludovic Troian-Gautier.