Found in 1990 STIL-BAS is the largest national centre for fundamental research in the field of solar-terrestrial physics, in situ and remote investigation of the geospace, planets and interplanetary space, optical atmosphere emissions and space biology and medicine.

Remote sensing of the Earth and planets is the second direction of research and development area. Space and aircraft based instruments and Geoinformatics are the basic directions of research and applications.

The laboratory main objective is to apply the results from the fundamental studies into technology innovations. STIL-BAS took part in the development of scientific programs, instruments and data analyses and in coordination of scientific programs for the following satellites, rockets planetary probes and manned space flights: Intercosmos - 2,8,12,14,18,24; Intercosmos-"Bulgaria 1300" -1st and 2nd satellite; the rockets "Vertical"-3,4,6,7,10; flights of the first (1979) and second (1988) Bulgarian astronauts; projects VEGA, Phobos 1 & 2, Interball-1st and 2nd satellites, APEX, Koronas, space station “Mir”, Bion-11, ISS, Foton-1M, International Space Station, Foton-2/3M etc.

Source: Self-entry