Predicting space weather
SSL scientists were the first to detect the x-rays emitted by solar flares in 1961 thereby launching the field of x-ray astronomy. That discovery led SSL to develop and lead the RHESSI mission, which revealed the basic physics of solar flares. Our technologists designed and built instruments for the flagship-class Parker Solar Probe mission. Our instruments gathered electric and magnetic field data within the Sun’s atmosphere, which allowed our scientists to confirm that magnetic forces drive the solar events that create adverse space weather. We also design and build smaller, low-cost solar research missions like PADRE, which is measuring x-rays from solar flares with the aim of developing better predictive models of harmful solar emissions.
Protecting critical infrastructure
Thanks to a partnership with the US Air Force and the Office of Naval Research, an SSL scientist discovered parallel electric fields in the Earth’s magnetosphere in 1976, which led us to develop and launch the FAST mission in 1996. FAST revealed how particles from space plasmas are accelerated into the Earth’s atmosphere to create auroras. Through missions like ICON and THEMIS, our scientists were able to track how a magnetic tug of war between the magnetosphere and the solar wind causes magnetic storms that can disrupt navigation systems. SSL also contributes to the TRACERS and CINEMA missions, which will investigate unexplored regions of the magnetosphere. We built the payload for the Carruthers mission, which is studying the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere, and we contribute to the science objectives. This fundamental research contributes to our ability to predict space weather and protect satellites and power grids from its adverse effects.
Exploring distant worlds
SSL developed and led the MAVEN mission, which revealed how the Martian atmosphere was lost to the solar wind. We’re continuing that research with ESCAPADE, which will study how Mars’ atmosphere interacts with its unique magnetic field. Our studies of extra-terrestrial samples began with the Stardust and Genesis missions. When Genesis crashed after re-entering the atmosphere, we salvaged the science mission by devising a means of de-contaminating the samples. We went on to study material gathered from an asteroid by the OSIRIS-REx mission. We aim to simplify future analyses by eliminating the need to return some samples to Earth for study. Our Enceladus Organic Analyzer is intended for a future mission to Saturn’s moon Enceladus and will collect and analyze samples from water plumes that blast into orbit from the moon’s surface.
Demystifying our universe
We’ve made numerous contributions to the field of astrophysics. The COSI mission began as a high-altitude balloon mission and has since become a small explorer class satellite mission that will launch in 2027. COSI will scan the skies for gamma rays with the aim of learning more about antimatter, black holes and neutron stars. In addition, our technicians built many components for the DESI Survey, which is charting dark energy up to 11 light years away. We manage the UVEX mission, which will chart the ultraviolet sky, and we are developing the LuSEE-Night mission, which will conduct radio astronomy from the far side of the Moon. We also contribute to the science mission of the GAPS high-altitude balloon, which was deployed in 2026 in search of particles associated with dark matter.