The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (Institutet för rymdfysik, IRF) is a governmental research institute with about 100 em ... ployees. Its primary task is to carry out basic research, education and associated observatory activities in space physics, space technology and atmospheric physics. IRF has employees in Kiruna, Umeå, Uppsala and Lund. The main office is located in Kiruna in northern Sweden (geographic coordinates 67.84° N, 20.41° E). IRF has satellite instruments orbiting the Earth and Mars and others on their way to Mercury. IRF also has responsibility for two instruments on a major European mission (JUICE) to Jupiter and its icy moons in 2022. read more