Planetary and Space Science

Planetary and Space Science publishes original articles as well as short communications (letters). The journal welcomes theoretical, observational, experimental, and engineering studies relevant to planetary and space sciences. Ground-based and space-borne instrumentation, payload concepts and development, space engineering, mission-enabling technologies, and laboratory simulation of solar system processes are included. Special attention is given to high-quality technical papers describing the design, development, calibration, testing, integration, validation, and operation of scientific payloads, instruments, spacecraft subsystems, and laboratory facilities that support planetary and space research.

The following fields of planetary and solar system research are covered:

• Celestial mechanics, including dynamical evolution of the solar system, gravitational captures and resonances, relativistic effects, tracking and dynamics

• Cosmochemistry and origin, including all aspects of the formation and initial physical and chemical evolution of the solar system

• Terrestrial planets and satellites, including the physics of the interiors, geology and morphology of the surfaces, tectonics, mineralogy and dating

• Outer planets and satellites, including formation and evolution, remote sensing at all wavelengths and in situ measurements

• Planetary atmospheres, including formation and evolution, circulation and meteorology, boundary layers, remote sensing and laboratory simulation

• Planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres, including origin of magnetic fields, magnetospheric plasma and radiation belts, and their interaction with the Sun, the solar wind and satellites

• Small bodies, dust and rings, including asteroids, comets and zodiacal light and their interaction with solar radiation and the solar wind

• Exobiology, including origin of life, detection of planetary ecosystems and pre-biological phenomena in the solar system and laboratory simulations

• Extrasolar systems, including the detection and/or the detectability of exoplanets and planetary systems, their formation and evolution, and the physical and chemical properties of exoplanets

• Space engineering and instrumentation, including payload concepts, spacecraft and rover instrumentation, remote-sensing systems, sensors and detectors, onboard electronics, data acquisition systems, autonomous and robotic systems, mission operations, technology demonstrations, and engineering solutions for planetary exploration and scientific discovery

• Laboratory and experimental planetary science, including laboratory simulations of planetary environments, calibration and characterization of instruments, analogue studies, materials testing, environmental qualification, verification and validation, technology readiness advancement, and experimental facilities supporting planetary missions

• History of planetary and space research

This journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 13 (Climate Action)