The Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) located in Thiruvananthapuram is a premier laboratory of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)/ISRO, which aims to carry out advanced research in atmospheric, space, and planetary sciences. The laboratory focuses on the scientific understanding of the energetics, dynamics, and chemistry of the terrestrial and planetary environments. The main focus of the SPL is to carry out research on the lower and upper atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of the Earth and other solar system bodies. The laboratory has developed several scientific instruments, including atmospheric radars, lidars, solar radiometers, airglow photometers, and imagers for ground-based probing of the atmosphere/ionosphere. SPL also operates a High Vacuum Space Simulation Facility (HVSSF) and clean room for the development, testing, and calibration of space-borne instruments. The laboratory has developed payloads for several space missions, including Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and Mars Orbiter Mission.