Pioneering space science research and applications since the dawn of the space age, our intellectually and culturally diverse faculty, researchers, and staff lead NASA missions and investigations across the solar system. The SPACE Institute is comprised of three departments within the Division of Physical Sciences, namely Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS), Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (EPSS), and Physics & Astronomy, with strong ties to the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, School of Medicine, and Anderson School of Management. Voted again in 2024 as the #1 public university in the U.S. for the 8th year in a row, UCLA is an innovation hub and student talent pool in the midst of LA’s booming aerospace industry.
UCLA has long been a leader in space science, employing a variety of observational techniques, developing instruments and satellite platforms, and integrating basic theory, numerical modeling, machine learning, and laboratory plasma experiments. Our investigations encompass solar physics, solar-wind interactions with terrestrial and planetary magnetospheres, and ionospheric physics, collectively known as “space weather.” We also have been responsible for discovering “waterworlds” in our solar system and beyond, and are developing new instrumentation for remote sensing, medical studies of astronauts in space and for deep space discoveries. We are more committed than ever to this mission given the ever-increasing human and technological presence in space.
The commercial space sector economy is projected to reach $1-$2.7 trillion by the 2040s. This growth will create demand for thousands of qualified space professionals, with unique transdisciplinary expertise that spans research to real-life applications. UCLA can deliver on that front by providing hands-on training with real-world applications, preparing students and career professionals alike to succeed in the space industry of the future.
