A hub for space science research at LLNL

The Space Science Institute is Lawrence Livermore’s hub for:

  • Developing new space science mission concepts, instrumentation, and enabling technologies;
  • Driving collaborative discoveries; and
  • Growing the scientific and engineering workforce.

Building on a long history of excellence in space science and instrumentation, the institute aims to address important questions in astrophysics and planetary science through cross-discipline collaboration.

While studying topics such as the nature of dark energy and the origin and evolution of our solar system, our research also provides foundations for space security missions and other Livermore programs.

Our research

Our team

about our institute

Extraterrestrial material used in cosmochemistry research

Featured research

Dual-purpose cosmochemistry research allows us to unravel the history of the solar system while developing techniques applicable to the Laboratory’s nuclear forensics research. Onsite capabilities help us uncover clues about the solar system from extraterrestrial materials.

Learn more about our cosmochemistry research

Our foundations

Since its inception, LLNL researchers have contributed to many experiments and space missions, as well as to projects at ground-based observatories. We are building on these foundations to ensure a strong ongoing space science program at LLNL.

Cosmochemistry
Did you know?

Since the 1980s, LLNL has been a leader in multilayer thin film science, a capability born out of the needs of the x-ray laser programs. Work at LLNL led to the development of multilayer optics that enabled space based extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft x-ray solar telescopes aboard sounding rockets and satellites, including some of the earliest instrumentation for solar observations in these wavebands.

Learn more about the history of multilayer coatings at LLNL

In the news

News list

read more news