High-Altitude Research and Technology

Research Group Members

 

Leader:

  • dr Agata Maria Harasymczuk

Group Members:

  • dr inż. Krzysztof Grabowski 
  • dr inż. Michał Lupa
  • dr inż. Mateusz Olek
  • dr inż. Dagmara Stasiowska 

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Stratospheric Research and High-Altitude Technologies Laboratory (HART Lab)

The Stratospheric Research and High-Altitude Technologies Laboratory (HART Lab) is an interdisciplinary research and development laboratory operating within the Faculty of Space Technologies, specializing in stratospheric technologies, near space systems, and next-generation high-altitude platforms.

The mission of the laboratory is to develop advanced technologies enabling scientific research and technical operations in the stratospheric and mesospheric environment, with particular emphasis on long-duration aerostat missions, autonomous research platforms, and systems for launching scientific and commercial experiments.

Main Areas of Activity:

  1. High-Altitude Balloon and Aerostat Technologies

The laboratory conducts research on the design and development of:

  • advanced balloon envelope materials,
  • composite materials and ultralight high-altitude structures, next-generation aerostats,
  • systems enabling long-duration stratospheric operations,
  • autonomous high-altitude platforms and HAPS (High Altitude Platform Systems),
  • independent communication and telemetry systems.

The objective of these activities is to conduct missions reaching stratospheric and mesospheric altitudes and to develop systems capable of multi-day or multi-week operations in the near space environment.

  1. Research Platforms and Near Space Technologies

HART Lab develops:

  • experimental platforms inspired by CubeSat architecture,
  • research capsules for stratospheric missions,
  • high-altitude research drones,
  • telemetry, communication, and payload recovery systems, solutions for environmental and flight parameter monitoring.

The laboratory conducts experiments related to:

  • atmospheric research (UV intensity, ozone concentration, particulate matter, turbulence, Schumann resonance, ionizing radiation),
  • space medicine and space biology (lab-on-chip systems, protective media),
  • Earth observation and monitoring,
  • electronics resistant to near space conditions,
  • power supply systems,
  • testing of sensors and scientific instruments,
  • aerospace materials and technologies.
  1. Mission Control Center

An integral part of the laboratory is the development of a Mission Control Center enabling:

  • planning and supervision of stratospheric missions,
  • real-time flight parameter monitoring,
  • communication with high-altitude platforms,
  • telemetry data analysis,
  • operational safety management and payload recovery operations.

The center will support scientific, educational, and commercial missions.

  1. Space Technology Testing and Industrial Cooperation

The laboratory cooperates with industrial partners and space-tech startups in the field of:

  • testing payloads and devices in near space conditions,
  • technology validation prior to orbital missions,
  • resilience testing of systems in stratospheric environments,
  • development of quality assessments and technological reports,
  • recommendations for structural and operational improvements.

HART Lab enables the safe deployment of commercial experiments and research devices to high altitudes while maintaining aerospace engineering standards.

  1. Education and Outreach Activities

An important pillar of the laboratory’s activity is education and the development of competencies for future space sector professionals through:

  • organization of stratospheric competitions for school and university students,
  • workshops and technological training programs,
  • summer schools and project-based educational initiatives,
  • support for student engineering teams,
  • development of STEM and space education programs.

The laboratory creates an environment in which students and young engineers can gain practical experience in real high-altitude missions and aerospace projects.

Vision of the Laboratory

The long-term goal of HART Lab is to establish a leading European center for stratospheric research and technologies, developing autonomous near space systems, long-endurance flight platforms, and technologies supporting future atmospheric and space missions.