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The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) is one of the UK’s leading centres of excellence for planetary and space science research, with a multidisciplinary approach to a broad range of activities with the unifying themes of the formation and evolution of the solar system, planetary exploration and the study of life in extreme environments.
Geologists, astronomers, chemists, physicists and microbiologists work together on space flight instrumentation, extra-terrestrial sample analysis, ground and space-based observations, theoretical modelling and experimental simulations of extraterrestrial processes. PSSRI is a core member of CEPSAR, the University’s interdisciplinary Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research.
PhD projects are offered in all of these areas as well as for industrial collaborations on detector technology, medical, environmental and security spin-offs.
Key facts
- Interdisciplinary environment with ~75 staff including 20 postgraduate students.
- Internationally renowned researchers in a range of disciplines with CEPSAR research being ranked in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, with 70 per cent of its research ranked as ’world-leading‘ or ’internationally excellent‘ and 95 per cent being at least ’recognised internationally‘ in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- Leading roles in international space missions, with student involvement at all phases (instrument development, flight operations and data analysis).
- Student access to unparalleled laboratory facilities for analysis of extraterrestrial samples.
- Many large grants from research councils, industry and charities.
- Studentships funded by STFC and industry available each year.
Facilities
Our world-class analytical facilities include a range of state-of-the-art stable isotope mass spectrometers, a NanoSIMS ion microprobe, an analytical scanning electron microscope with integrated Focused Ion Beam milling, gas chromatography-MS and -TOFMS, a range of optical microscope systems including laser Raman microprobe and UV-Vis Microphotospectrometer, and a new microbiology lab equipped for culturing aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms and molecular biology. PSSRI also houses a large meteorite collection which provides extraterrestrial samples for the range of micro-analytical facilities.
Instrument laboratories are used for development of space experiments and terrestrial mass spectrometer applications. Space environment chambers are used to simulate the surfaces of Mars, Titan, asteroids and comets, and to test and calibrate space instruments. The imaging semiconductor test laboratory is used for development and testing of detectors for astronomical and terrestrial applications and the Hypervelocity Impact Laboratory houses a Light Gas Gun and electrostatic dust accelerator.
Students also have access to analytical facilities in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and IMPACT, the University research computer cluster.
Further information
If you have an enquiry specific to this research area please contact:
- Name:
- Astrid Peterkin
- Email:
- science-phd-enquiries@open.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1908 659845
For general enquiries please contact the Research Degrees Team via the link under 'Your questions' further down the page.
Publications
Research publications by Open University staff are available through Open Research Online (ORO), the university's repository of research publications and other research outputs. ORO can be searched or browsed by staff name or subject.
The following list, generated from ORO, provides a flavour of the most recently published work in Planetary and Space Sciences:
- Sheridan, Simon; Bardwell, Max; Morse, Andrew; Zoest, Tim; Wippermann, Torben and Wright, Ian (2012). A mole deployed mass spectrometer for sub-surface volatile detection and characterisation at airless bodies. In: 9th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW9), 18 - 22 June 2012, Toulouse, France (forthcoming).
- Montabone, Luca; Lewis, Stephen R.; Steele, Liam; Read, Peter L.; Ruan, Tao; Smith, Michael D.; Kass, David; Kleinböhl, Armin; Schofield, John T.; Shirley, James H. and McCleese, Daniel J. (2012). Mars analysis correction data assimilation: a multi-annual reanalysis of atmospheric observations for the red planet. In: 4th World Climate Research Programme International Conference on Reanalyses, 7-11 May 2012, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
- Starkey, Natalie A.; Fitton, J. Godfrey; Stuart, Finley M. and Larsen, Lotte M. (2012). Melt inclusions in olivines from early Iceland plume picrites support high 3He/4He in both enriched and depleted mantle. Chemical Geology, 306 (In press).
- Sheridan, Simon and Bardwell, Max (2012). A Penetrator deployed sub-surface volatile mass spectrometer. In: In Situ Science and Instrumentation for Primitive Bodies Workshop, 30 April-4 May 2012, Caltech, USA.
- Charlier, B. L. A.; Nowell, G. M.; Parkinson, I. J.; Kelley, S. P.; Pearson, D. G and Burton, K. W. (2012). High temperature strontium stable isotope behaviour in the early solar system and planetary bodies. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 329 pp. 31–40.
- More publications relating to Planetary and Space Sciences
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Your questions
The Research Degrees Team is here to advise you about our research degree programme and the OU experience.
- research-degrees-team@open.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)1908 654882
Employers' questions
The Research Degrees Team is happy to advise about supporting students through our research degree programmes.
- research-degrees-team@open.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)1908 654882