This is a portal to information and resources related to space physics research conducted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at The University of Iowa.
The department has a rich history of leadership and participation in space physics research dating back to the launch of Explorer 1 in 1958 carrying Professor Van Allen's cosmic ray experiment. Since then, we have developed instruments flown on seventy successful missions.
Suggestions for updates or corrections? See the custodial link at the bottom of most pages.
Projects in Development
- HelioSwarm
- Lunar Vertex
- Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS)
Active Spaceflight Projects
-
Parker Solar Probe (PSP) (2018- )
- SPAN particles instrument of SWEAP suite
-
Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) (2015- )
- EDI fields and particles instrument
-
Mars Atmosphere and Volitile Evolution missioN (MAVEN) (2013- )
- SWIA particles instrument
- SWARM/CASSIOPE (2013- )
- Juno (2011- )
- THEMIS-ARTEMIS (2007- )
- Mars Express (MEX) (2003- )
- Cluster II (2000- )
- Voyager 1 and 2 (1977- )
Past Spaceflight Projects
- HaloSat (2018-2021)
- LADEE (2013-2014)
- NMS particles instrument
- Van Allen Probes (2012-2019)
- Cassini (1997-2017)
- Polar (1996-2008)
- Geotail (1992-2022)
- Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) (1990-1991)
- Galileo (1989-2003)
- Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracing Explorer (AMPTE) (1984-1986)
- Plasma Diagnostic Package (PDP) (1982, 1985)
- Dynamics Explorer (DE) 1 (1981-1991)
- International Sun-Earth Explorers (ISEE) 1, 2, & 3 (1977-1997)
- Helios 1 and 2 (1974-1985)
- Hawkeye (1974-1978)
- Pioneer 10 and 11 (1972-2003)
- Small Scientific Satellite (SSS or S3) A (1971-1974)
- Interplanetary Monitoring Platforms (IMP) H, I, & J (1971-2006)
- Injun 5 (1968-1971)
- Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) 5 (1968-1972)
- Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) 4 (1967-1970)
- Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) E (1967-1973)
- Mariner 5 (1967)
- Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) F (1967-1969)
- Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) D (1966-1971)
- Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) 3 (1966-1969)
- Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) 2 (1965-1967)
- Mariner 4 (1964-1967)
- Injun 4 (1964-1966)
- Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) 1 (1964-1971)
- P 11-AS (1964-1965)
- Injun 3 (1962-1963)
- Explorer 14 (1962-1963)
- Mariner 2 (1962-1963)
- Transit Research And Attitude Control (TRAAC) (1961-1962)
- Explorer 12 (1961)
- Injun 1 (1961-1963)
- Explorer 7 (1959-1961)
- Pioneer 4 (1959)
- Pioneer 3 (1958)
- Explorer 4 (1958-1959)
- Explorer 3 (1958)
- Explorer 1 (1958)
Suborbital Rockets
- Loss through Auroral Microburst Pulsations (LAMP) (2022)
- Vlf trans-Ionospheric Propagation Experiment Rocket (VIPER) (2021)
- Investigation of Cusp Irregularities (ICI-5) (2019)
- Cusp Alfven and Plasma Electrodynamics Rocket 2 (CAPER 2) (2019)
- Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics 2 (TRICE-2) Mission 2/B (2018)
- Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics 2 (TRICE-2) Mission 2/A (2018)
- Off-Plane Grating Rocket for Extended Source Spectroscopy 1 (OGRESS 1) (2015)
- Correlations of High Frequencies & Auroral Roar Mission (CHARM 2) (2010)
- Black Brant IX Sounding Rocket/CyXESS Mission (2009)
- Auroral Current and Electrodynamic Structure Rocket (ACES) Mission (2009)
- Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics (TRICE) Mission 1/B (2007)
- Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics (TRICE) Mission 1/A (2007)
- Correlations of High Frequencies & Auroral Roar Mission (CHARM) (2007)
- High Bandwidth Auroral Rocket (HiBAR) (2003)
- Rocket Auroral Correlator Experiment (RACE) (2002)
- Spear 3 pressure gauge (1993)
- Spear 1 pressure gauge (1987)
- Javelin 8:46 experiment (1968)
- Javelin 8:45 experiment (1967)
- Rockoons (109 launches) payloads and casings (1951-1957)
Space Physics Research Groups
- Space Physics, Plasma Physics, and Astrophysics Faculty
- DeRoo Research Group
- Goree Group
- Halekas Research
- Hoadley UV Space Lab
- Howes Research
- Jaynes Research Group
- Miles Research Lab
- Particles and Imaging
- Radio and Plasma Waves
- Scudder Research
Data System Resources
- Planetary Data System (PDS PPI Outer Planets Subnode)
- das2: Data Analysis System
- Space Physics Research Wiki
