Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
RECOMMENDATIONS
111
space environment measurements and modeling, with many commonalities between space weather and
space climate needs.
First Applications Recommendation [A1.0]—Recharter the National Space Weather Program
The survey committee concluded that, in addition to agency-appropriate activities by NASA, NSF,
NOAA, and DOD to support space weather model research and development, validation, and transition to
operations, a comprehensive plan for space weather and climatology is also needed to fulfill the requirements presented in the June 2010 U.S. National Space Policy 15 and envisioned in the 2010 National
Space Weather Program Strategic Plan. 16 However, implementation of such a program would require
funding well above what the survey committee assumes to be currently available; the committee advises
that an initiative in space weather and climatology proceed only if its execution does not impinge on the
development and timely completion of the other recommended activities that are described in this chapter
and shown in Figure 6.1.
In Chapter 7, the survey committee presents a vision for a renewed national commitment to a comprehensive program in space weather and climatology that would provide long-term observations of the space
weather environment and support the development and application of coupled space weather models to
protect critical societal infrastructure, including communication, navigation, and terrestrial meteorological
spacecraft. Realization of the committee’s plan, or a similar plan, will require action across a number of
agencies and coordination at an appropriately higher level in government.
The charter for the NSWP dates to its inception in 1995. Rechartering the NSWP would provide an
opportunity to review the program and to consider the issues raised here, especially those pertaining to program oversight and agency roles and responsibilities. This need informs the following recommendation: 17
As part of a plan to develop and coordinate a comprehensive program in space weather and climatology,
the survey committee recommends that the National Space Weather Program be rechartered under the
auspices of the National Science and Technology Council. With the active participation of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget, the program should build on
current agency efforts, leverage the new capabilities and knowledge that will arise from implementation
of the programs recommended in this report, and develop additional capabilities, on the ground and in
space, that are specifically tailored to space weather monitoring and prediction.
15 National Space Policy of the United States of America, June 28, 2010, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/
national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf.
16 Committee for Space Weather, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM),
National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan, FCM-P30-2010, August 17, 2010, available at http://www.ofcm.gov/nswp-sp/fcmp30.htm.
17 A similar recommendation was made in a review of the NSWP program that was published in 2006. In that review, it is recommended that,
The NSWPC should review and update its now 10-year-old charter to describe clearly its oversight responsibilities. These
should include, but not be limited to, the authority to: (1) address and resolve interagency issues, concerns, and questions;
(2) reprioritize and leverage existing resources to meet changing needs and requirements; (3) approve priorities and new requirements as appropriate and take coordinated action to obtain the needed resources through each agency’s budgetary process;
(4) identify resources needed to achieve established objectives; and (5) coordinate and leverage individual organizational efforts
and resources and ensure the effective exchange of information.
See, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, Report of the Assessment Committee
for the National Space Weather Program, FCM-R24-2006, June 2006, p. xiii, available at http://nswp.gov/nswp_acreport0706.pdf.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
RECOMMENDATIONS
111
space environment measurements and modeling, with many commonalities between space weather and
space climate needs.
First Applications Recommendation [A1.0]—Recharter the National Space Weather Program
The survey committee concluded that, in addition to agency-appropriate activities by NASA, NSF,
NOAA, and DOD to support space weather model research and development, validation, and transition to
operations, a comprehensive plan for space weather and climatology is also needed to fulfill the requirements presented in the June 2010 U.S. National Space Policy 15 and envisioned in the 2010 National
Space Weather Program Strategic Plan. 16 However, implementation of such a program would require
funding well above what the survey committee assumes to be currently available; the committee advises
that an initiative in space weather and climatology proceed only if its execution does not impinge on the
development and timely completion of the other recommended activities that are described in this chapter
and shown in Figure 6.1.
In Chapter 7, the survey committee presents a vision for a renewed national commitment to a comprehensive program in space weather and climatology that would provide long-term observations of the space
weather environment and support the development and application of coupled space weather models to
protect critical societal infrastructure, including communication, navigation, and terrestrial meteorological
spacecraft. Realization of the committee’s plan, or a similar plan, will require action across a number of
agencies and coordination at an appropriately higher level in government.
The charter for the NSWP dates to its inception in 1995. Rechartering the NSWP would provide an
opportunity to review the program and to consider the issues raised here, especially those pertaining to program oversight and agency roles and responsibilities. This need informs the following recommendation: 17
As part of a plan to develop and coordinate a comprehensive program in space weather and climatology,
the survey committee recommends that the National Space Weather Program be rechartered under the
auspices of the National Science and Technology Council. With the active participation of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget, the program should build on
current agency efforts, leverage the new capabilities and knowledge that will arise from implementation
of the programs recommended in this report, and develop additional capabilities, on the ground and in
space, that are specifically tailored to space weather monitoring and prediction.
15 National Space Policy of the United States of America, June 28, 2010, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/
national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf.
16 Committee for Space Weather, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM),
National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan, FCM-P30-2010, August 17, 2010, available at http://www.ofcm.gov/nswp-sp/fcmp30.htm.
17 A similar recommendation was made in a review of the NSWP program that was published in 2006. In that review, it is recommended that,
The NSWPC should review and update its now 10-year-old charter to describe clearly its oversight responsibilities. These
should include, but not be limited to, the authority to: (1) address and resolve interagency issues, concerns, and questions;
(2) reprioritize and leverage existing resources to meet changing needs and requirements; (3) approve priorities and new requirements as appropriate and take coordinated action to obtain the needed resources through each agency’s budgetary process;
(4) identify resources needed to achieve established objectives; and (5) coordinate and leverage individual organizational efforts
and resources and ensure the effective exchange of information.
See, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, Report of the Assessment Committee
for the National Space Weather Program, FCM-R24-2006, June 2006, p. xiii, available at http://nswp.gov/nswp_acreport0706.pdf.