The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (IASB-BIRA) is a Belgian scientific institution created in 1964 and depends on the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office. IASB-BIRA focuses on the study of scientific issues within the upper atmosphere and outer space within the framework of physics and chemistry.

The IASB-BIRA Space Physics Division has participated in many space environment projects in the past years. Through those projects the Division has acquired a significant know-how in the space environment, in the construction and usage of measurement data bases, and in the creation and operation of processing tools and models. Division personnel participating in HESPERIA have expertise in the energetic particle environment (solar energetic particles, Earth’s radiation belts, galactic cosmic rays).