The Planetary Exploration group at TU Delft’s faculty of Aerospace Engineering is dedicated to the exploration of the solar system and the planets beyond.
Our science is focused on planetary atmospheres; planetary surface processes and materials; planet and moon interiors; and exoplanet detection and characterisation. We design and develop scientific instruments and trajectories for future space missions aimed at exploring the characteristics of other planets and moons in our solar system. We are also part of the Delft Space Institute.

Launched
JUICE en route to Jupiter
A grand odyssey of exploration is about to begin. Humankind’s next bold mission to the outer solar system. ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice), launched successfully to explore giant planet Jupiter and its largest moons. After years of preparations, Juice was launched into space on April 14 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The mission, in which TU Delft plays a leading role in the experiment PRIDE, is diving into orbit of a moon other than Earth’s for the first time. Something the Americans, Japanese and Chinese have never succeeded in doing before.
Virtual Lab Tour
Join us on a virtual lab tour to get to know some of our people and experience the labs they work in. The video below showcases the work at the department of Space engineering, for other departments at our faculty follow this link.
Our latest news.
- New expertise network will study habitability of planets and moons
- Edgar Steentra awarded ERC Starting grant to study coupling of volcanoes and atmosphere on Venus
- Urban Meteor Map sheds light on best places to view meteor showers
- Our place in the universe: Nick Oberg defends PhD thesis
- Paneth Meteorite Trust Award for drone-assisted meteorite searching
- New dark sky sensor monitors brightness of starry skies above Delft campus
- Is there life elsewhere in our solar system?
- Mars is not a back-up option
- Fireball camera network FRIPON officially handed over to TU Delft
- Virtual Lab Tours Aerospace Engineering