Missions & Projects
We develop and apply space plasma models to interpret observations of space weather and the solar wind coupling with planetary magnetospheres, induced magnetospheres, foreshocks, exospheres, ionospheres, atmospheres, surfaces and interiors on several spacecraft exploration missions in the solar system as well as lead and participate in international research projects of which major ongoing ones are listed here.
MEOW ERC-CoG
Our team's work is mainly funded through the European Research Council's Consolidator Grant project named Mercury in the solar wind: adaptive kinetic model for space weather at solar system's innermost planet (MEOW). In the project, we develop novel methods for particle-based global space weather modeling and include detailed electron physics description as well as apply the model to interpret space plasma observations on the BepiColombo mission.
BepiColombo
Participation in BepiColombo is among the biggest investments in solar system missions by Finland and the FMI.
Retention of Habitable Atmospheres in Planetary Systems
Our planetary space weather team is a collaborating partner in NASA’s Astrobiology program in the Interdisciplinary Consortia for Astrobiology Research cross divisional team called Retention of Habitable Atmospheres in Planetary Systems (ICAR/RHAPS) funded for 2023-2028.
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
FMI participates in the Particle Environment Package (PEP) of the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission to study the Jupiter system and especially the Galilean icy moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
Mars Express
Mars Express (MEx) is one of the longest operating and successful planetary exploration missions and in orbit around Mars since 2003. FMI participates in the ASPERA-3 (Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms) particle instrument package.
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