Lunar and Planetary Institute

What Lunar and Planetary Institute does

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit research institute founded in 1968 and operated by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) under a cooperative agreement with NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Headquartered at 3600 Bay Area Boulevard in Houston, Texas, immediately adjacent to NASA Johnson Space Center, LPI functions as a scientific forum, research facility operator, and community convener for the planetary science and astrobiology communities. Its mission is to advance understanding of the solar system by providing scientific research support, hosting scientific meetings, curating planetary data and imagery, and educating students, early-career researchers, and the general public.

LPI's core activities are organized around four pillars: Science, Meetings, Resources, and Learning. Its scientific portfolio is anchored by the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE), a member team of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) led by Principal Scientist Dr. David Kring, which bridges planetary science and human space exploration. The institute operates specialized laboratory facilities including a Phenom XL scanning electron microscope, Raman spectrometer, petrographic microscope, the XSPACE meteorite classification laboratory (recognized as an official repository by the Meteoritical Society), and the LASSSE astrobiology laboratory. LPI also maintains three of the field's authoritative data resources: the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (80,135+ valid meteorite names), the searchable Meeting Abstracts database (76,000+ abstracts from 250+ meetings), and the Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF) containing planetary imagery and Apollo-era technical documents. Educational offerings include the ENComPSS sample-science training program, the Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA) for undergraduates, the LPI Summer Intern Program, the postdoctoral McKay and Ryder Fellowships, the VIRTEX youth engagement program, and the CONTACT library partnership program.

LPI's business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Primary funding flows through the NASA Science Mission Directorate cooperative agreement administered by USRA, supplemented by research grants (Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award, Barringer Meteorite Impact Research Fund) and program-specific awards (e.g., NASA@ My Library, ENComPSS). Programs and databases are offered largely free of charge to the global research and public communities; revenue is not commercially derived. Customer segments are NASA-funded researchers, university faculty and students, K-12 and informal educators, and the general public — with NASA itself functioning as the dominant institutional anchor rather than a customer in a commercial sense.

Name

Lunar and Planetary Institute

Legal name

Lunar and Planetary Institute

Website

https://lpi.usra.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lunar and Planetary Institute is a nonprofit research institute in Houston, Texas, operated by USRA under a NASA cooperative agreement, serving the planetary science community with research programs, laboratory facilities, scientific meetings, authoritative databases (Meteoritical Bulletin, abstracts), and education/outreach initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. NASA Cooperative Agreement: LPI is operated by USRA under a cooperative agreement with the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Primary funding mechanism supporting research, operations, and community programs.
2. Research Grants and Awards: LPI supports and administers various research awards and grants including the Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award, Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research, and Career Development Awards for students and early career researchers.
3. Meeting and Conference Organization: Organizing conferences and workshops for the international scientific community. The meeting portal provides access to meeting logistics, facilities, and abstracts database containing over 76,000 abstracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is a nonprofit research institute that advances understanding of the solar system through planetary science research, facilitation of community access to NASA astromaterials samples, organization of international scientific conferences and workshops, and operation of authoritative planetary science databases. It runs scientific training programs, internships, and fellowships, and delivers space science education and public engagement resources to the research community, students, and the general public.

Product overview

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is a research institute operated by USRA under NASA cooperative agreement, offering scientific research programs, educational initiatives, and resource services rather than commercial products. The portfolio includes the ENComPSS (Expanding NASA's Community of Planetary Sample Scientists) program for astromaterials training, the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE) focused on lunar and near-Earth asteroid science, the Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA) for undergraduate students, and various science labs (Scanning Electron Microscope, Raman Spectrometer, Petrographic Microscope, Rock Preparation Lab, XSPACE Laboratory, LASSSE). Educational programs include VIRTEX (Virtual Trips to Extreme Environments), CONTACT (Connecting NASA with Communities), and Explore STEM Activities. The institute also maintains the Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF), the Meteoritical Bulletin Database, and organizes scientific meetings and conferences. These are institutional programs and research services, not commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ENComPSS: Expanding NASA's Community of Planetary Sample Scientists - a program that brings together scientists, laboratories, and universities to support NASA's sample science program.
• Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE)
• Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA)
• XSPACE Laboratory
• LASSSE

Products and services

• ENComPSS - Expanding NASA's Community of Planetary Sample Scientists
• Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE)
• Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA)
• Science Labs and Equipment (XSPACE, LASSSE, SEM, Raman Spectrometer)
• Meteoritical Bulletin Database
• Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF)
• LPI Summer Intern Program
• VIRTEX - Virtual Trips to Extreme Environments
• CONTACT - Connecting NASA with Communities
• Explore STEM Activities
• Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC)
• Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award and Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 76,000 abstracts available from 250+ meetings in searchable database
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Universities Space Research Association (USRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 1968USRA is the parent organization that manages LPI under contract to NASA. USRA fosters cooperation among universities, research organizations, and government for advancement of space research. LPI is operated by USRA under a cooperative agreement with NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
• NASA Science Mission DirectoratecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA SMD provides the primary cooperative agreement funding LPI operations. The institute supports NASA's efforts to explore the solar system through research, sample curation access, and community facilitation.
• NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPI leads the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE) as an integral part of NASA's SSERVI. The collaboration bridges planetary science and human space exploration with focus on lunar and near-Earth asteroid science.
• Johnson Space Center (JSC) / Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPI and JSC have long collaborative history from Apollo program. Joint Working Group meets monthly to oversee joint ARES-LPI activities promoting community access to extraterrestrial sample collections. ARES scientists lead meteorite classification partnership with LPI's XSPACE Laboratory.
• University of ArizonamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in CLSE team augmented by faculty, students, and analytical facilities. Contributes to lunar and planetary science research collaboration.
• University of HawaiimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in CLSE team providing faculty, students, and analytical facilities for lunar and planetary science research.
• University of HoustonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in CLSE team contributing faculty, students, and analytical facilities to lunar and planetary science research collaboration.
• University of MarylandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in CLSE team providing faculty, students, and analytical facilities for lunar and planetary science research.
• University of Notre DamemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in CLSE team contributing faculty, students, and analytical facilities to lunar and planetary science research.
• Arecibo ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing to CLSE team studies of near-Earth asteroids that have modified the Earth-Moon system evolution.
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner contributing to CLSE team research with expertise in planetary geology and mapping.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing scientific and technical expertise to CLSE team lunar science program.
• University of North Texas (UNT) LibrariesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborative partner in ALSEP blueprint digitization project. UNT's Digital Libraries Division provided scanning services through Rescuing Texas History award program and hosts materials on The Portal to Texas History.
• Space Science InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CONTACT program with Dr. Claire Ratcliffe Adams and Dr. Anne Holland contributing education and engagement expertise for library STEM programming.
• STAR Net LibrariesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner network for CONTACT program providing STEM Activity Clearinghouse and webinars for library staff interested in STEAM activities.
• Planetary Science InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VIRTEX program with Dr. Sanlyn Buxner serving as evaluator for virtual fieldtrip program connecting youth organizations with NASA researchers.
• Boys & Girls Clubs Texas AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth organization partner in VIRTEX program bringing NASA researcher connections to youth through virtual fieldtrips and mentorship.
• NASA Astrobiology ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VIRTEX program with Daniella Scalice contributing to education and communication for astrobiology community engagement.
• The Meteoritical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Meteoritical Society is the governing body for meteorite nomenclature. LPI hosts the Meteoritical Bulletin Database as the authoritative source, and the Nomenclature Committee recognizes XSPACE Laboratory as official meteorite repository.
• Multiple NASA Analysis GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPI hosts or provides support for 9 NASA Analysis and Assessment Groups including ExMAG, LEAG, MAPSIT, MEPAG, MExAG, OPAG, OWWG, SBAG, and VEXAG that provide community input for NASA mission planning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SETI Institute: A nonprofit research institute focused on astrobiology, exoplanets, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. SETI shares LPI's nonprofit research model, NASA partnership profile, and astrobiology research scope (LPI's LASSSE lab overlaps with SETI's astrobiology work).
• Planetary Science Institute: A nonprofit research organization dedicated to solar system exploration. PSI is a direct peer to LPI in mission, structure, and target community, and is even a partner with LPI in the VIRTEX program. Both organizations pursue NASA-funded planetary science research and education.
• Space Science Institute: A nonprofit organization integrating science research, education, and public engagement across space and Earth science. SSI is a direct peer in mission profile (planetary/space science research with education outreach) and is a partner with LPI in the CONTACT program.
• Carnegie Science – Earth & Planets Laboratory: A research division at Carnegie Science conducting high-pressure experimentation and planetary materials research. EPL is a peer in the planetary materials science and astromaterials research domain LPI specializes in, including meteorite/achondrite studies.

Broad incumbents

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: NASA's primary center for planetary mission development and operations. JPL is a broad incumbent in planetary science that LPI supports indirectly through community facilitation and sample science; overlaps in lunar and planetary science research.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: A NASA center with major planetary science research and mission involvement. Goddard is a research partner in LPI's CLSE team and a broader incumbent in space research with similar scientific mandates, though at significantly larger scale.
• Universities Space Research Association (USRA): The parent organization of LPI, USRA is a nonprofit association of universities chartered by NASA to advance space research. USRA operates multiple research institutes and programs, with LPI being one of its flagship centers; comparable in scope to a broader parent-portfolio peer.
• Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): A major nonprofit research center that develops NASA planetary missions and conducts planetary science research. APL is a broad incumbent with overlapping planetary science capability, though at much larger scale and with primary mission development focus.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): A large nonprofit R&D organization that conducts significant planetary science research, including NASA mission leadership. SwRI is a broader incumbent comparable to LPI's space science function but operates at much larger scale across multiple disciplines.

Others

• Barringer Crater Company: A family-owned company that co-funds the Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research administered by LPI. It is a thematic partner in meteorite impact research rather than a direct competitor, sharing common interests in advancing impact cratering science.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LPItoday
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/LPIUSRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/LunarandPlanetaryInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lunarandplanetaryinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/lpiusra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lunar and Planetary Institute