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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON SOLAR WIND-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
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SWMI Imperative 3. Initiate the development of a strategic mission, like MEDICI, to determine how
the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system is coupled and responds to solar and magnetospheric forcing.
SWMI Imperative 4. Ensure strong continued support for existing satellite assets that can still contribute
significantly to high-priority science objectives.
SWMI Imperative 5. Enhance and protect support for theory, modeling, and data analysis, including
research and analysis programs and mission-specific funding.
Within the three categories, the panel’s full set of prioritized imperatives is as follows. The numbering in each category reflects each priority’s relative ranking among all three categories, as shown also in
Table 9.4 at the end of this chapter.
9.1.1 Missions
1. Enhance the resources dedicated to the Explorer program and broaden the range of cost categories.
2. Complete the strategic missions that are currently in development (MMS, RBSP/BARREL) as costeffectively as possible.
3. Initiate the development of a strategic mission, like MEDICI, to determine how the magnetosphereionosphere-thermosphere system is coupled and responds to solar and magnetospheric forcing.
4. Ensure strong continued support for existing satellite assets that can still contribute significantly to
high-priority science objectives.
9. Develop a mechanism within NASA to support rapid development, deployment, and utilization
of science payloads on commercial vehicles and other missions of opportunity. NSF and DOD efforts in
this regard are also encouraged.
10. Through partnership between NASA’s Heliophysics Division and Planetary Division, ensure that
appropriate magnetospheric instrumentation is fielded on missions to other planets. In particular, the SWMI
panel’s highest priority in planetary magnetospheres is a mission to orbit Uranus.
11. Partner with other space agencies to implement consensus missions, such as a multispacecraft
mission to address cross-scale plasma physics.
15. If resources permit, initiate a strategic mission like MISTE to simultaneously measure the inflow of
energy to the upper atmosphere and the response of the ionosphere-thermosphere system to this input, in
particular the outflow back to the magnetosphere.
9.1.2 DRIVE-Related Actions
5. Enhance and protect support for theory, modeling, and data analysis, including research and
analysis programs and mission-specific funding.
6. Ensure continuity of measurements of the upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field.
7. Invest significantly in developing the technologies to enable future high-priority investigations.
8. Ensure strong multiagency support for a broad range of ground-based assets that are a vital part
of magnetospheric science.
14. Strengthen workforce, education, and public outreach activities.
16. Create an interagency joint laboratory astrophysics program that addresses issues relevant to space
physics.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON SOLAR WIND-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
211
SWMI Imperative 3. Initiate the development of a strategic mission, like MEDICI, to determine how
the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system is coupled and responds to solar and magnetospheric forcing.
SWMI Imperative 4. Ensure strong continued support for existing satellite assets that can still contribute
significantly to high-priority science objectives.
SWMI Imperative 5. Enhance and protect support for theory, modeling, and data analysis, including
research and analysis programs and mission-specific funding.
Within the three categories, the panel’s full set of prioritized imperatives is as follows. The numbering in each category reflects each priority’s relative ranking among all three categories, as shown also in
Table 9.4 at the end of this chapter.
9.1.1 Missions
1. Enhance the resources dedicated to the Explorer program and broaden the range of cost categories.
2. Complete the strategic missions that are currently in development (MMS, RBSP/BARREL) as costeffectively as possible.
3. Initiate the development of a strategic mission, like MEDICI, to determine how the magnetosphereionosphere-thermosphere system is coupled and responds to solar and magnetospheric forcing.
4. Ensure strong continued support for existing satellite assets that can still contribute significantly to
high-priority science objectives.
9. Develop a mechanism within NASA to support rapid development, deployment, and utilization
of science payloads on commercial vehicles and other missions of opportunity. NSF and DOD efforts in
this regard are also encouraged.
10. Through partnership between NASA’s Heliophysics Division and Planetary Division, ensure that
appropriate magnetospheric instrumentation is fielded on missions to other planets. In particular, the SWMI
panel’s highest priority in planetary magnetospheres is a mission to orbit Uranus.
11. Partner with other space agencies to implement consensus missions, such as a multispacecraft
mission to address cross-scale plasma physics.
15. If resources permit, initiate a strategic mission like MISTE to simultaneously measure the inflow of
energy to the upper atmosphere and the response of the ionosphere-thermosphere system to this input, in
particular the outflow back to the magnetosphere.
9.1.2 DRIVE-Related Actions
5. Enhance and protect support for theory, modeling, and data analysis, including research and
analysis programs and mission-specific funding.
6. Ensure continuity of measurements of the upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field.
7. Invest significantly in developing the technologies to enable future high-priority investigations.
8. Ensure strong multiagency support for a broad range of ground-based assets that are a vital part
of magnetospheric science.
14. Strengthen workforce, education, and public outreach activities.
16. Create an interagency joint laboratory astrophysics program that addresses issues relevant to space
physics.