Scientists at Sussex University are to boldly go where no weatherman has gone before.

Professor Paul Gough and three research students have spared us the sight of Michael Fish in a space suit by creating a device to measure weather in orbit.

It's meteorology, Jim, but not as we know it.

The hand-sized Correlating Electro Spectrograph, or CORES, will be sent up to cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station in 2006.

It continues a collaboration between Sussex University and the Ukrainian Institute for Space Research, which began during early Mars missions in the Eighties.

The unique instrument will not be much help to space travellers agonising over what to pack for that long journey to the outer reaches of the cosmos.

CORES will measure electrons and ions to study the near space environment.

The innocuous-looking silver tin took two years to develop and will record outer-space weather phenomena such as radioactive solar winds and magnetic storms, which in extreme cases affect Earth.

It will be fixed outside the station and readings will be beamed down to the university.

CORES is expected to be in use until at least 2011.

The prototype has passed a series of rigorous tests in simulated outer-space conditions.

Its destination is appropriate given the international feel of its design team.

Doctorate students George Seferiadis, Nick Huber and Marianne Pouchet are from Greece, Italy and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.

Professor Gough, who is responsible for overall design and control software, said: "For a prestigious project such as this, it is unusual to have a team effort involving research students. It's a great source of pride for the university.

"It has been a lot of hard work and late nights but we're thrilled it has been a success.

"It's projects like this that make Sussex one of the top institutions in the country for these sciences."

George said: "This has been a unique opportunity for us to develop an instrument that will actually fly into space.

"It feels very special because it is totally new science.

"Not many people have the opportunity to do something like this."

Nick added: "What's more special is that it was a group effort, right from the design and manufacturing to the final tests."

And the next challenge for Professor Gough and his team?

"What can we do now but an ENCORE? Enhanced correlating electro spectrograph," he joked.