Russian Space Research Institute

The Russian Space Research Institute (Russian: Институт космических исследований Российской академии наук, Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian abbreviation: ИКИ РАН, IKI RAN) is the leading organization of the Russian Academy of Sciences on space exploration to benefit fundamental science. It was formerly known as the Space Research Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Russian abbr.: ИКИ АН СССР, IKI AN SSSR).

The Institute is located in Moscow with a staff of 289 scientists. It conducts scientific research in the fields of astrophysics, planetary science, solar physics, Sun-Earth relations, cosmic plasma, and geophysics. IKI also develops and tests space technologies in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Federal Space Agency.

It was founded on May 15, 1965 by the Soviet Union's Council of Ministers decree #392-147. In 1992, a year after the dissolution of the Soviet Union it was rechristened with its present name.