Swedish Institute of Space Physics

The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) is a governmental research institute which conducts research and postgraduate education in atmospheric physics, space physics and space technology. Measurements are made in the atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere and around other planets with the help of ground-based equipment (including radar), stratospheric balloons and satellites. IRF was established (as Kiruna Geophysical Observatory) in 1957 and its first satellite instrument was launched in 1968. The head office is in Kiruna (geographic coordinates 67.84° N, 20.41° E) and IRF also has offices in Umeå, Uppsala and Lund.

Address:

Box 812, SE-981 28 Kiruna

Phone:

+46-980 79000

Head of public authority (President/Vice-Chancellor/CEO/DG):

Lars Eliasson

URL:

http://www.irf.se/

Press contact

Name:

Rick McGregor

Phone:

+46-980 79178

Mobile phone:

The latest press releases from Swedish Institute of Space Physics

Successful scientific experiment with sounding rocket for space scientists in Kiruna in collaboration with SSC Esrange

24 March, 2023 - Institutet för rymdfysik

At 19:23 local time on March 23, a sounding rocket with a scientific experiment from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) in Kiruna was launched from Esrange Space Center. Thanks to collected data, IRF’s space scientists can study conditions in near-Earth space, the ionosphere. The information contributes to a piece of the puzzle in […]

Space scientists in Kiruna will use sounding rocket to create colorful clouds for aurora studies

9 March, 2023 - Institutet för rymdfysik

Auroral scientists at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) in Kiruna are planning, with the help of SSC, to launch a sounding rocket from Esrange Space Center between 12-22 March 2023 with the aim of studying conditions in near-Earth space. The experiment will create unusual and beautiful light phenomenon. “To succeed in the scientific […]

New research reveals space debris, invisible meteors and near-Earth asteroids

22 November, 2022 - Institutet för rymdfysik

In a new thesis from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and Umeå University, unique methods for the analysis of radar data and simulations of meteoroids in the solar system are presented. The methods have been applied to confirm the existence of rare high-altitude meteors as well as to measure space debris from the Kosmos-1408 […]

Swedish space instrument will study the Moon on board a Turkish spacecraft

3 October, 2022 - Institutet för rymdfysik

The agreement between IRF and the Turkish Space Technologies Research Institute (Tübitak Uzay) means that Swedish space researchers will once again have the opportunity to study the Moon. The scientific instrument Lunar Neutrals Telescope (LNT) is being built at IRF’s headquarters in Kiruna to study surface and near-surface environment of the Moon. This instrument is […]

New research explains physical processes of Mars and Venus plasma environments

26 September, 2022 - Institutet för rymdfysik

On the 27th of September, Katerina Stergiopoulou, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) and Uppsala University, will defend her doctoral thesis. New results about the physical processes taking place in the induced magnetospheres and magnetotails of Mars and Venus will be presented. Mars and Venus don’t have a planetary magnetic field like Earth does. Consequently, […]

Waves in space affect the key process that creates solar storms

7 June, 2022 - Institutet för rymdfysik

In the doctoral thesis that Konrad Steinvall, Swedish Institute of Space Physics and Uppsala University, presents on June 8, new results are presented on how waves in electrically charged gas, space plasma, interact with the plasma itself in connection with an explosive process called magnetic reconnection. The process is connected to both solar storms and […]

Doctoral thesis reveals the technology behind a space instrument built to study Jupiter

11 May, 2022 - Institutet för rymdfysik

On May 13th Philipp Wittmann, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) and Umeå University, will defend his doctoral thesis. Philipp has been part of developing, testing, and calibrating the particle instrument Jovian plasma Dynamics and Composition analyzer (JDC). It will measure ions and electrons in the Jovian system onboard the upcoming European spacecraft JUpiter ICy […]

Sofia Bergman’s research gives scientists an opportunity to study low-energy ions.

24 November, 2021 - Institutet för rymdfysik

Sofia Bergman, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) and Umeå University, will defend her doctoral thesis on low-energy ions around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 26 November. Observing low energy ions is notoriously difficult because their properties are affected greatly by the spacecraft which observes them. Sofia has developed new methods to do this. Using her work, scientists can study low-energy ions around comets and in a variety of other places in the Solar System.

Unique tests available at Sweden’s IRF SpaceLab

25 November, 2020 - Institutet för rymdfysik

The SpaceLab test facility at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) in Kiruna, Sweden, offers industry and research groups an extensive opportunity to test and qualify space-related hardware for satellites, rockets, balloons and ground-based technology. A film and a website are now being launched to present the test capabilities within IRF SpaceLab. ”IRF has […]

Swedish space instrument participates in the search for life around Jupiter

18 November, 2020 - Institutet för rymdfysik

The Swedish-led satellite instrument Particle Environment Package (PEP) will help researchers at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) to understand how three of Jupiter’s icy moons are affected by the particles around Jupiter and search for the pre-conditions for life. After 14 years of work, the instrument is ready to take its place on […]

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