This week, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder hosted the sixth International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2025). About 180 scientists, engineers, and other stakeholders from around the world joined the hybrid meeting, which was sponsored by NASA, to discuss innovative new technologies and instrumentation to be developed for future planetary missions.
The meeting focused on three broad science topics that were highlighted in the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032: the importance of advancing lunar observations, better understanding asteroids, and prioritizing a future mission to Uranus. The presentations covered a wide range of current and in-development instrumentation and technologies that will allow the science community to tackle the decadal’s key science questions, as well as “lessons learned” from previous missions.
“The collection of talks and discussions was really inspiring,” said Harriet George, a LASP postdoctoral researcher and the workshop’s organizer. “It was my hope that this meeting would foster collaboration and new ideas, and being able to see that happen in real time was incredible.”
Some of the key takeaways were the importance of having a wide variety of instrumentation on a future mission to Uranus to investigate all aspects of this mysterious ice giant; the importance of understanding the composition and shape of asteroids for Earth’s planetary defense; and ways we can learn more about our moon with upcoming missions that will land on its surface.
Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Erica Montbach, the chief technologist at NASA’s Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office. She highlighted new technologies being developed and opportunities that her office offers to help advance planetary instrumentation.
Meeting participants also had the opportunity to tour LASP, the only academic research institute in the world to send an instrument to study every planet in our solar system, and to learn how the lab continues to deliver the future of space science.
LASP Interim Director Frank Eparvier, who welcomed the attendees to CU Boulder during the opening address, emphasized the importance of the meeting for advancing planetary science instrumentation. “Because planetary exploration takes decades, meetings like this are crucial for the community to discuss which technologies need to be developed or refined to answer key scientific questions in 10 or 20 years,” said Eparvier. “I’d like to thank NASA, the science committee, and the local organizing committee led by Harriet George for their efforts to bring together these stakeholders to advance the future of planetary science.”
By Willow Reed, Sr. Communications Specialist
Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder is revolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos. LASP is deeply committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of space explorers. From the first exploratory rocket measurements of Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of every planet in the solar system, LASP continues to build on its remarkable history with a nearly $1 billion portfolio of new research and engineering programs.
