1988
Space milestones
Kayser takes its first step into space
In 1988, Kayser participates in LAPEX, a stratospheric balloon mission that marks its entry intospace research. Just two years after its foundation, the company begins to apply the expertisedeveloped in industrial electronics to instruments and experiments for studying space.
The Italian Space Agency is founded
In 1988, ASI, the Italian Space Agency, is officially established. It marks the beginning of a newphase for the national space sector: research, industry and international cooperation gain acommon institutional point of reference. The histories of ASI and Kayser will develop in paralleland eventually intersect on several occasions.
The Space Shuttle returns to flight
With STS-26, the Shuttle Discovery takes the American programme back into space after thelong suspension following the Challenger accident. The return to flight marks a fresh start builtaround new checks and a greater focus on safety.
Missions & Payloads
LAPEX
LAPEX is an Italian stratospheric balloon mission dedicated to studying cosmic sources that emit high-energy X-rays. It carries the instrument of the same name and marks one of Kayser’s first experiences in space research, a new field of application for the expertise developed in electronics and data acquisition.
LAPEX
LAPEX (Large-Area Phoswich Experiment) is an instrument designed to observe cosmic sources in the X-ray band between 20 and 300 keV, including supernova SN 1987A. It uses “phoswich” detectors, which can distinguish useful signals from background noise. Carried by a stratospheric balloon, it collects data on high-energy emissions to study the phenomena that produce them.