Established in 1989, the Center for Advanced Research in Space Optics (CARSO) is a non-profit organization involved in research and development of advanced optical instrumentation and components for space applications.

CARSO's main fields of interests focus on optical technologies and astronomical instrumentation for space platforms: autonomous pointing and tracking systems for the shuttle and space station; fluorimeters for biological experiments in space; photon counting instruments for satellite earth observation; vision systems for real-time 3-D remote handling and quality control in industry; software for space instrumentation; and experiments on the physiology of the human eye under zero-gravity conditions.

CARSO offers educational opportunities for students through its support for degree and post-graduate research in physics, astronomy and electronic engineering, and study grants in space technology.