About the Department

Research Environment

The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) is one of the largest planetary science groups in the UK, with about 80 members including 10 academic staff, about 30 postdoctoral researchers, technical support staff and about 20 research students. In the last national Research Assessment Exercise PSSRI was entered as part of a CEPSAR bid, which with 70% rated as internationally excellent.

Research in PSSRI covers a broad range of activities with the unifying themes of: the formation and evolution of the Solar System; planetary exploration; the study of life in extreme environments. The multi-disciplinary approach in PSSRI encompasses all of the traditional areas of science. We study the physics, chemistry and biology of the Solar System. The goals of such a broad field of enquiry are reached using a range of scientific tools: space missions & their instrument packages; cosmochemistry & laboratory based astronomy; laboratory & natural simulation of space and planetary environments; remote observations; space-based astronomy; space-based astronomy theory and modeling.

In tackling these scientific challenges we endeavour to employ the very best ideas and instrumentation. Our research is based on recruiting the best research staff and students and acquiring or developing world leading instrumentation. PSSRI is based in the Robert Hooke Building on the Walton Hall campus, a purpose-built accommodation housing sample analysis laboratories, mechanical and electronic space experiment workshops and clean rooms. Our world-class analytical facilities include a range of state-of-the-art stable isotope mass spectrometers, a NanoSIMS ion microprobe, an analytical SEM 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.

Space environment chambers are used to simulate the surfaces of Mercury, Mars, Titan, asteroids and comets, and to test and calibrate space instruments. Other analytical facilities available in adjoining departments include new TEM and Field-emission SEM, an electron microprobe, FTIR microscope as well as a comprehensive suite of isotope geochemistry laboratories.

The imaging semiconductor test laboratory is used for development and testing of detectors for astronomical and terrestrial applications. PSSRI also houses a large meteorite collection which provides extraterrestrial samples for the range of micro-analytical facilities.

All these laboratory facilities are available for PhD student use and most projects are intimately linked to the analysis programmes and current and future space missions. All PSSRI postgraduate students have their own networked desktop computer. In addition, every instrument is controlled by a computer, which in most cases is networked, and access is available to the Physics and Astronomy computer cluster.

Space missions provide the possibility of in-situ planetary science, space astronomy and the return of extraterrestrial samples. With planetary science at the forefront of the goals for European and UK science with support for the Aurora (Mars exploration) and Cosmic Vision (Space Science for Europe 2015-2025) programmes, PSSRI will continue its successful involvement in mission planning, instrument development, data analysis and exploitation:

* Genesis: Sample analysis team - returned solar wind samples (2005), although compromised by crash landing, are expected to yield the initial solar nebula composition.

* Huygens: Surface Science Package and Atmospheric Structure Instrument: Determination of Titan surface and atmospheric properties (Titan landing 2005).

* Stardust: Dust Flux Monitor and sample analysis team - Cometary dust properties and composition (comet Wild 2 flyby, 2004; sample return, 2006).

* Cassini: Cosmic Dust Analyser - study of the composition of saturnian dust (Saturn orbital tour, 2004-2010+)

* Rosetta: Ptolomy - isotopic composition of cometary ices (launch, 2005; rendezvous with comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, 2014).

* Aurora Programme: UV/Visual spectrometer for Mars Orbiter and development of analytical techniques and sample handling protocols (launch 2016+)

* New missions: Mission and instrument concept development including Don Quijote (near-Earth object mitigation test), Phobos sample return, Laplace (Jupiter/Europa orbiter), GAIA (astrometry mission), IXO (International X-ray Observatory), Near-Earth asteroid sample return.

The miniaturisation of laboratory instruments has enabled us to play a leading role in developing instruments to study cometary ices and the isotopic signatures of life on Mars, which has led to industrial collaborations for terrestrial applications.

PSSRI hosts a sponsored research centre for development of detector technologies in collaboration with E2V which is one of the world's leading suppliers of imaging sensors for space applications e.g. ( WFC3 on Hubble Space telescope, HiRise on Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, MERIS on Envisat). A number of CASE studentships (which include additional funding above the STFC stipend) are available to develop technologies and investigate both space and terrestrial applications. These studentships are available with start-up dates throughout the year.

PSSRI and the OU have extensive infrastructure for the support and training of research students, under the overall umbrella of the OU Research School. With PSSRI having involvement in major space missions, ongoing internationally recognised research programmes, and housing extensive research equipment and facilities, the working environment is ideal for a student to maintain a high level of motivation. PSSRI staff work on site, with supervisors operating an 'open-door' policy for their research students. Thus the supervision allows frequent contact between supervisor and student. Weekly meetings of all PSSRI members are held to discuss matters of general interest with more specialised, project specific, meetings held on a regular basis.

The Institute has close links with all other Departments of the Science Faculty sharing a number of analytical, support and social facilities. In particular, where a student's project involves geochemistry there will be liaison with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; where observations and space sciences are involved there is a logical connection with the Department of Physics & Astronomy (which also has its own STFC funded students, mainly studying astronomy).

The international collaborations associated with space missions and sample analysis attract many visitors who interact directly with the students who are intimately involved with those particular projects. Students are also encouraged to attend relevant seminars in the Earth and Environmental Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, CEPSAR & Interdisciplinary Centre for Astrobiology programmes.