UCL Department of Space & Climate Physics
We are pushing forward the boundaries of space science research. Collaborating with top engineers, our scientists and research students are building and testing instruments for space, including many that are helping to explore planets, comets and the wider solar system on major space missions.
Over 300 space missions
MSSL hardware has been on over 300 space missions since 1957 and been placed in orbit around Earth, Mars, Venus, Saturn as well as visiting comets passing through the solar system.
View our space missions
Unravelling the Universe
Learn more about the work we’re doing to investigate physical processes in the solar system and wider Universe, and to develop instruments to support the next generation of space missions.
Building for space
We design and build cutting edge technology to study space, from flight instruments that gather data, to advanced space telescopes.
Study with us
Browse our diverse programme portfolio, and see how far a UCL space and climate physics qualification could take you.
Observe - Explore - Inspire
Space Missions
Space instruments designed, built and tested at MSSL are key parts of a number of international missions.
Find out moreDepartment news:
UCL’s Space Science Week celebrates 12 years of inspiring the next generation of space scientists
As part of UCL's Bicentenary, the Dept of Space & Climate Physics reflects on the success of its Space Science Week - an annual event that has introduced hundreds of sixth formers to space research.
12 Aug 2026
Planetary Science at the UCL200 Your Universe Festival
The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck was proud to play a key role in the Department of Physics and Astronomy's bicentenary celebrations on 19-20th June 2026.
22 Jul 2026
Simulations show SOLAR-C/EUVST will reveal the fine-scale plasma motions that precede solar flares
Forward modelling demonstrates the capabilities of one of the most powerful solar EUV-spectrometers and is accompanied by the release of new tools for simulating and planning instrument operations
10 Jul 2026
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