Man must rise above the Earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.
- Socrates
Planetary science attempts to answer questions about the composition and function of the planets and other cosmological bodies such as moons, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Polar ice, volcanoes, mountains, oceans, clouds, and hurricanes are all phenomena common to many planets and their satellites. How these phenomena form and change-and what their structures and activities can contribute to our knowledge of the universe, and whether they harbor the potential to support extraterrestrial life-lie at the heart of planetary science research and technology development.
USRA Planetary Science Programs include:
Lunar and Planetary Institute
The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), located in proximity to NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, is a focal point for the lunar and planetary research community. LPI houses an extensive data collection, image-processing facility, scientific visualization facility, and a library containing more than 52,000 items. Read more »
