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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON SOLAR AND HELIOSPHERIC PHYSICS
311
Its advocacy for this seed-money allocation emphasizes the high priority that the SHP panel places on
developing SSP technologies to enable future expeditions to the inner and outer heliosphere and to the
local interstellar medium.
10.5.3 Summary of NASA-Related Imperatives Developed by
the Panel on Solar and Heliospheric Physics
10.5.3.1 Completion of the Development and Launch of the Heliophysics Flight Program Now in
Development
SHP Imperative: The highest-priority objectives for heliophysics during the coming decade are to
complete the development and launch of the IRIS and SPP missions and to fulfill U.S. contributions to the
Solar Orbiter mission.
Justification: These new missions each offer unique opportunities for important breakthroughs in
achieving SHP goals outlined in Section 10.1 (see §10.4.6.1-§10.4.6.3). IRIS is a small Explorer that will
investigate how internal convective flows power solar-atmospheric activity. SPP will make mankind’s first
visit to the solar corona carrying a payload of in situ and remote-sensing instruments to discover how the
corona is heated, how the solar wind is accelerated, and how the Sun accelerates particles to high energy.
The ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter mission has a remote-sensing and in situ payload that, after a NASA launch,
will investigate links between the solar surface, corona, and inner heliosphere from as close as 62 R S and
as high as 35° solar latitude. The SHP panel gives its unqualified endorsement to the mission concepts
under development in October 2011 as long as they satisfy cost and schedule guidelines.
10.5.3.2 Expansion of the Heliophysics Explorer Program
SHP Imperative: In light of the success of heliophysics Explorers in addressing focused, high-priority
science targets in all three disciplines, the SHP panel gives high priority to expanding flight opportunities in
the heliophysics Explorer program and adding new cost-effective middle-size launchers to the manifest. 23
Justification: The Explorer line contains a mix of small and middle-size Explorers and a stand-alone
mission of opportunity (SALMON) component supporting participation in space programs of other agencies
and nations. These missions have been highly innovative, extremely successful, and implemented on time
and within budget. There is a large supply of new, cutting-edge ideas for Explorer missions in all heliophysics disciplines. Since 2001, 43 heliophysics-related Explorer missions have been proposed; 15 (35 percent)
were rated category 1, but only 3 have been implemented. Ramping up the heliophysics Explorer program
to about $150 million per year could enable a launch opportunity (Explorer or SALMON) every year.
Currently available (as of May 2012) launch vehicles are not adequate to support middle-size Explorers. Adding cost-effective low-end Atlas, Minotaur, or Falcon-9 launchers to the Explorer manifest would
enable future MidEx mission opportunities.
23 R.P. Lin et al., Expansion of the Heliophysics Explorer Program, white paper submitted to the Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space
Physics (Heliophysics), Paper 160; E. Moebius et al., NASA’s Explorer Program as a Vital Element to Further Heliophysics Research,
white paper submitted to the Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics), Paper 205.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON SOLAR AND HELIOSPHERIC PHYSICS
311
Its advocacy for this seed-money allocation emphasizes the high priority that the SHP panel places on
developing SSP technologies to enable future expeditions to the inner and outer heliosphere and to the
local interstellar medium.
10.5.3 Summary of NASA-Related Imperatives Developed by
the Panel on Solar and Heliospheric Physics
10.5.3.1 Completion of the Development and Launch of the Heliophysics Flight Program Now in
Development
SHP Imperative: The highest-priority objectives for heliophysics during the coming decade are to
complete the development and launch of the IRIS and SPP missions and to fulfill U.S. contributions to the
Solar Orbiter mission.
Justification: These new missions each offer unique opportunities for important breakthroughs in
achieving SHP goals outlined in Section 10.1 (see §10.4.6.1-§10.4.6.3). IRIS is a small Explorer that will
investigate how internal convective flows power solar-atmospheric activity. SPP will make mankind’s first
visit to the solar corona carrying a payload of in situ and remote-sensing instruments to discover how the
corona is heated, how the solar wind is accelerated, and how the Sun accelerates particles to high energy.
The ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter mission has a remote-sensing and in situ payload that, after a NASA launch,
will investigate links between the solar surface, corona, and inner heliosphere from as close as 62 R S and
as high as 35° solar latitude. The SHP panel gives its unqualified endorsement to the mission concepts
under development in October 2011 as long as they satisfy cost and schedule guidelines.
10.5.3.2 Expansion of the Heliophysics Explorer Program
SHP Imperative: In light of the success of heliophysics Explorers in addressing focused, high-priority
science targets in all three disciplines, the SHP panel gives high priority to expanding flight opportunities in
the heliophysics Explorer program and adding new cost-effective middle-size launchers to the manifest. 23
Justification: The Explorer line contains a mix of small and middle-size Explorers and a stand-alone
mission of opportunity (SALMON) component supporting participation in space programs of other agencies
and nations. These missions have been highly innovative, extremely successful, and implemented on time
and within budget. There is a large supply of new, cutting-edge ideas for Explorer missions in all heliophysics disciplines. Since 2001, 43 heliophysics-related Explorer missions have been proposed; 15 (35 percent)
were rated category 1, but only 3 have been implemented. Ramping up the heliophysics Explorer program
to about $150 million per year could enable a launch opportunity (Explorer or SALMON) every year.
Currently available (as of May 2012) launch vehicles are not adequate to support middle-size Explorers. Adding cost-effective low-end Atlas, Minotaur, or Falcon-9 launchers to the Explorer manifest would
enable future MidEx mission opportunities.
23 R.P. Lin et al., Expansion of the Heliophysics Explorer Program, white paper submitted to the Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space
Physics (Heliophysics), Paper 160; E. Moebius et al., NASA’s Explorer Program as a Vital Element to Further Heliophysics Research,
white paper submitted to the Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics), Paper 205.