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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
151
instrument and technology development program must support GDC’s implementation later in this decade.
In that case, the AIMI panel suggests that the DYNAMIC (Dynamical Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere
Coupling) mission be put forth as the decadal survey’s number-one priority for the 2013-2022 decade.
DYNAMIC is a pair of satellites in low-Earth orbits separated by 6 hours of local time, carrying the instruments to measure the critical energy inputs to the AIM system from the spectrum of waves entering from
below. Although the primary focus is to understand how lower-atmosphere variability drives IT variability,
DYNAMIC will also measure important properties of the IT response to variable magnetospheric forcing.
Additional NASA missions that address another high-priority science challenge of the next decade—
understanding the two-way interaction between the ionosphere-thermosphere and the magnetosphere—are
also described in this chapter. These missions and the associated science are also potential candidates for
the Explorer program.
8.1.2 Explorers, Suborbital, and Other Platforms
The relative proximity of the AIM system makes it amenable to observational strategies involving a
wide variety of platforms. This attribute is a significant strength in crafting a program that is responsive to
budgetary realities and to the changing climate of programmatic risk factors. The following AIMI panel
priorities reflect this crucial flexibility:
• Explorer program enhancement (highest priority). Enhance the Heliophysics Explorer line to execute
a broad range of science missions that can address important AIMI science challenges. Mission classes
should range from a tiny Explorer that takes advantage of miniaturized sensors and alternative platforms
and hosting opportunities, up to a medium Explorer that could address multiple science challenges for the
decade.
• Constellations of satellites. Develop the means to effectively and efficiently implement constellation
missions, including proactive development of small-satellite capabilities and miniaturized sensors and
pursuit of cost-effective alternatives such as commercial constellations.
• Suborbital research. Maintain a strong suborbital research program. Continue development of
observatory-class capabilities, such as a high-altitude sounding rocket and long-duration balloons, and
expand funding for science payload development for these platforms.
• Strategic hosted payloads. Develop a strategic capability to make global-scale AIMI imaging measurements from host spacecraft, notably those in high Earth orbit and geostationary Earth orbit, as is currently done in support of solar (GOES SXT) and magnetospheric (TWINS, GOES, LANL) research.
8.1.3 Ground-Based Facilities
New ground-based instrumentation and associated research programs can also address an array of AIMI
science questions in this decade. These facilities will play a major role in an overall strategy to understand
the origins of plasma-neutral structures over local (tens to hundreds of kilometers), regional (hundreds to
thousands of kilometers), and global scales (thousands to tens of thousands of kilometers), as well as the
interactions between structures over these different scales. In particular, several prospective facilities are
particularly compelling for advancing AIMI panel science priorities:
• Autonomous American sector network. Develop, deploy, and operate a network of 40 or more
autonomous observing stations extending from pole to pole through the (North and South) American lon-
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
151
instrument and technology development program must support GDC’s implementation later in this decade.
In that case, the AIMI panel suggests that the DYNAMIC (Dynamical Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere
Coupling) mission be put forth as the decadal survey’s number-one priority for the 2013-2022 decade.
DYNAMIC is a pair of satellites in low-Earth orbits separated by 6 hours of local time, carrying the instruments to measure the critical energy inputs to the AIM system from the spectrum of waves entering from
below. Although the primary focus is to understand how lower-atmosphere variability drives IT variability,
DYNAMIC will also measure important properties of the IT response to variable magnetospheric forcing.
Additional NASA missions that address another high-priority science challenge of the next decade—
understanding the two-way interaction between the ionosphere-thermosphere and the magnetosphere—are
also described in this chapter. These missions and the associated science are also potential candidates for
the Explorer program.
8.1.2 Explorers, Suborbital, and Other Platforms
The relative proximity of the AIM system makes it amenable to observational strategies involving a
wide variety of platforms. This attribute is a significant strength in crafting a program that is responsive to
budgetary realities and to the changing climate of programmatic risk factors. The following AIMI panel
priorities reflect this crucial flexibility:
• Explorer program enhancement (highest priority). Enhance the Heliophysics Explorer line to execute
a broad range of science missions that can address important AIMI science challenges. Mission classes
should range from a tiny Explorer that takes advantage of miniaturized sensors and alternative platforms
and hosting opportunities, up to a medium Explorer that could address multiple science challenges for the
decade.
• Constellations of satellites. Develop the means to effectively and efficiently implement constellation
missions, including proactive development of small-satellite capabilities and miniaturized sensors and
pursuit of cost-effective alternatives such as commercial constellations.
• Suborbital research. Maintain a strong suborbital research program. Continue development of
observatory-class capabilities, such as a high-altitude sounding rocket and long-duration balloons, and
expand funding for science payload development for these platforms.
• Strategic hosted payloads. Develop a strategic capability to make global-scale AIMI imaging measurements from host spacecraft, notably those in high Earth orbit and geostationary Earth orbit, as is currently done in support of solar (GOES SXT) and magnetospheric (TWINS, GOES, LANL) research.
8.1.3 Ground-Based Facilities
New ground-based instrumentation and associated research programs can also address an array of AIMI
science questions in this decade. These facilities will play a major role in an overall strategy to understand
the origins of plasma-neutral structures over local (tens to hundreds of kilometers), regional (hundreds to
thousands of kilometers), and global scales (thousands to tens of thousands of kilometers), as well as the
interactions between structures over these different scales. In particular, several prospective facilities are
particularly compelling for advancing AIMI panel science priorities:
• Autonomous American sector network. Develop, deploy, and operate a network of 40 or more
autonomous observing stations extending from pole to pole through the (North and South) American lon-