What Lunar & Planetary Laboratory does

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) is an academic research institution and department within the University of Arizona's College of Science, founded in 1960 and located in Tucson, Arizona. The institution functions as a public state university department governed by the Arizona Board of Regents, with ~47 employees operating across the Kuiper Space Sciences Building, Sonett Building, and Drake Building facilities. LPL's core function is interdisciplinary planetary science research and graduate/postgraduate education, including a multidisciplinary Ph.D. program in Planetary Sciences, graduate minors in Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology, undergraduate minors in Planetary Sciences, Astrobiology, and Astronomy Studies, and a Planetary Geosciences Major.

LPL's primary products and research outputs center on participation in active NASA spacecraft missions as investigators, including OSIRIS-REx (asteroid Bennu sample return), Juno (Jupiter exploration), Parker Solar Probe (solar wind study), and Pandora (exoplanet atmosphere characterization). Supporting infrastructure includes the Space Imagery Center for processing planetary imagery, the LPL Library for specialized research resources, the Arizona Astrobiology Center, and the Arizona Space Institute. Computer vision and image analysis capabilities support spacecraft data processing. The institution maintains public outreach programs including The Art of Planetary Science, Space Rock Summer Camp, and the Arizona Scale Model Solar System.

LPL operates as a non-commercial academic entity with no disclosed revenue, pricing, or commercial customers. Funding derives from NASA research grants, federal research contracts, and University of Arizona allocations. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Research outputs are distributed through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and NASA/international space agency collaborations. There are no external private equity or venture capital investors, and the institution maintains academic autonomy under university governance.

Name

Lunar & Planetary Laboratory

Legal name

The University of Arizona - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

Website

https://lpl.arizona.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is an academic research department at the University of Arizona that conducts interdisciplinary planetary science research and graduate education, serving as an investigator institution on active NASA missions including OSIRIS-REx, Juno, Parker Solar Probe, and Pandora.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LPL is an academic research department that conducts interdisciplinary planetary science research as investigators on NASA spacecraft missions (OSIRIS-REx, Juno, Parker Solar Probe, Pandora), develops space mission instrumentation, and operates the Space Imagery Center. It delivers graduate and undergraduate academic programs in Planetary Sciences, Astrobiology, and Astronomy Studies, supported by dedicated research facilities and a specialized library.

Product overview

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) is an academic research department within the University of Arizona offering undergraduate and graduate education in planetary sciences. The organization operates as a unified academic department combining the Graduate Program in Planetary Sciences, Undergraduate Minors (Planetary Sciences, Astrobiology, Astronomy Studies), and the Planetary Geosciences Major. Research activities are centered around Spacecraft Missions and Instrumentation participation, with facilities including the Space Imagery Center and LPL Library. The department also maintains outreach programs (The Art of Planetary Science, Space Rock Summer Camp) and affiliated research centers including the Arizona Astrobiology Center and Arizona Space Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Program in Planetary Sciences
• Undergraduate Minors in Planetary Sciences, Astrobiology, and Astronomy Studies
• Planetary Geosciences Major
• Spacecraft Missions and Instrumentation Research
• Postdoctoral Research Program
• Public Education and Outreach Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduate programs leading to Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences; graduate minors in Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary research partner and funding source. LPL serves as investigator on multiple NASA spacecraft missions including OSIRIS-REx (sample return from asteroid Bennu), Juno (Jupiter exploration), Parker Solar Probe (solar wind study), and Pandora (exoplanet atmosphere study). NASA provides major research grants and mission funding.
• Arizona Space InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-institutional collaboration within the University of Arizona focused on space research and exploration activities.
• Arizona Astrobiology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated center for astrobiology research at the University of Arizona, working in collaboration with LPL researchers on studies related to the origin and distribution of life in the universe.
• Arizona Space GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Grant program providing educational support and opportunities for students in space-related fields at the University of Arizona.
• University of Arizona College of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent college providing administrative support, marketing communications, and institutional resources for LPL as part of the broader University of Arizona science community.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Space Science Institute (SSI): Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit focused on space and planetary science research and education. Comparable in mission and structure as a peer scientific research organization participating in NASA missions.
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): Caltech-operated NASA center for robotic space exploration and the leading builder/operator of planetary missions. Directly comparable to LPL as a planetary science powerhouse with deep involvement in flagship missions (e.g., OSIRIS-REx, Juno collaboration, ExoMars) and a similar talent base of research scientists and postdocs.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) – Planetary Science Division: Nonprofit R&D institute with a large planetary science division that is a principal investigator institution for many NASA missions (e.g., New Horizons, Juno). Comparable to LPL as a non-academic scientific research entity heavily involved in spacecraft missions and instrumentation.
• SETI Institute: Nonprofit research institute focused on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and astrobiology with active participation in NASA missions and instrumentation. Comparable as a peer astrobiology and planetary science research institution.
• Planetary Science Institute (PSI): Nonprofit dedicated exclusively to planetary science research with scientists participating in numerous NASA missions. Directly comparable as a peer research organization competing for NASA grants and mission science roles.
• MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences: Top-tier university department covering planetary science, astrobiology, and instrumentation. Directly comparable as an academic peer competing with LPL for graduate students, NASA grants, and mission science team slots.
• Carnegie Science – Earth & Planets Laboratory: Research division of Carnegie Science conducting experimental and theoretical research in planetary science, astrobiology, and geophysics. Comparable to LPL as a peer research institution with similar disciplinary breadth and instrumentation capabilities.
• Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Major astrophysics and planetary science research center jointly operated by Harvard and the Smithsonian Institution. Comparable to LPL in scale and breadth of space science research and graduate training programs.
• Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences: Academic peer operating a graduate program in planetary science within a leading research university, with faculty participating in numerous NASA missions and instrumentation teams. Closely comparable to LPL in mission, talent model, and educational offering.

Broad incumbents

• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: NASA field center with significant planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics programs that collaborate with and compete against LPL for mission roles. Comparable as a broader incumbent space research institution, though not an academic department.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UArizonaLPL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UArizonaLunarandPlanetaryLaboratory
• Facebookfacebook.com/UArizonaLPL
• Instagraminstagram.com/uarizonalpl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uarizona-lpl

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lunar & Planetary Laboratory