Close encounters with planets
Space plasma and planetary physics
Scientists at UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory are playing a leading role in the exploration of the planets
Saturn
The Cassini-Huygens space craft took seven years to travel along its two billion mile journey to Saturn. The craft is the size of small bus and carries instruments designed and made by UCL scientists and engineers.
Cassini-Huygens carried the UCL team's electron instrument past Earth in August 1999 and Jupiter in December 2000 on its way to Saturn. At Earth, the scientists were able to take a 'snapshot' of the Earth's magnetosphere during a very fast flyby. Later, at Jupiter, they gathered some exciting data on Jupiter's plasma environment and the causes of Jupiter's aurora. They measured the solar wind between Jupiter and Saturn. Now, since 1 July 2004, Cassini-Huygens has been in orbit around Saturn. The craft will continue to orbit the planet for four years until 2008.
Venus and Mars
The team is also responsible for instruments in space craft designed to explore other planets. The European Space Agency spacecraft 'Mars Express' is orbiting the red planet now. Venus Express is being prepared for its launch in November 2005.
Submitted by: Checked by Andrew Coates, 25 January 2007
