United Kingdom operational

Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute

The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) at the Open University in Milton Keynes was co-founded by the late Professor Colin Pillinger, who served as principal investigator for the European Space Agency's Beagle 2 Mars lander, which touched down on Mars on 25 December 2003 as part of the Mars Express mission.

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Est. 1969 Academic
open.ac.uk
Founded
1969
Headquarters
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Ownership
Academic
Quick Facts
Country
United Kingdom
Founded
1969
Type
academic
Status
operational

About Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute

Updated 2026-06-30

The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) at the Open University in Milton Keynes was co-founded by the late Professor Colin Pillinger, who served as principal investigator for the European Space Agency's Beagle 2 Mars lander, which touched down on Mars on 25 December 2003 as part of the Mars Express mission. Pillinger and PSSRI colleagues also championed and developed the Ptolemy instrument flown on ESA's Rosetta mission, which analysed the composition of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko via the Philae lander in 2014. The institute remains one of the UK's leading academic centres for planetary science and space-mission instrumentation.

Signals

Verification
Partly sourced

Categories & Capabilities

Location

Loading map...

Click and drag to explore • Double-click to zoom

Share

Suggest an Edit

Is this information outdated or incorrect? Help us improve this profile.

Submit Correction

Explore More

Discover 1,000+ space companies worldwide

Browse All Companies

Frequently asked about Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute

Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.

When was Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute founded?
Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute was founded in 1969 in United Kingdom.
Where is Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute headquartered?
Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute is headquartered in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
What does Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute do?
The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) at the Open University in Milton Keynes was co-founded by the late Professor Colin Pillinger, who served as principal investigator for the European Space Agency's Beagle 2 Mars lander, which touched down on Mars on 25 December 2003 as part of the Mars Express …
Is Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute a public or private company?
Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute is a private academic and is not listed on any stock exchange.
What sector does Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute operate in?
Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute works in research, Planetary science and Education.

Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Open University Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.

Last verified: June 30, 2026
Editorial owner: Dr. Donovan, Editor-in-Chief Company representatives may submit corrections This page does not constitute an endorsement or affiliation Learn about our data methodology