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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
8
SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS: A SCIENCE FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Living With a Star
Certain landmark scientific problems are of such scope and complexity that they can be addressed only
with major missions. In the survey committee’s plan, major heliophysics missions would be implemented
within NASA’s LWS program; the survey committee recommends that they continue to be managed and
executed by NASA centers. Other integral thematic elements besides the flight program are essential to the
LWS science and technology program: the unique LWS research, technology, strategic capabilities, and
education programs remain of great value.
R4.0 Implement a large Living With a Star mission to study the ionospherethermosphere-mesosphere system in an integrated fashion.
The survey committee recommends that, following the launch of RBSP and SPP, the next LWS science
target focus on how Earth’s atmosphere absorbs solar wind energy. The recommended reference mission
is Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC).
As detailed in Chapter 4, the GDC reference mission would provide crucial scientific measurements
of the extreme variability of conditions in near-Earth space. Within anticipated budgets, the completion of
the baseline LWS program, which includes the launch of two major missions—RBSP in 2012 and SPP in
2018—does not allow for the launch of a subsequent major mission in heliophysics until 2024, 6 years
after SPP. This establishes what the survey committee regards as the absolute minimum cadence needed
for major missions.
Applications Recommendations: Enabling Effective Space Weather and Climatology Capabilities
Multiple agencies of the federal government have vital interests related to space weather, and efforts to
coordinate these agencies’ activities are seen in the National Space Weather Program (NSWP). Nonetheless, the survey committee concluded that additional approaches are needed to develop the capabilities
outlined in the 2010 National Space Policy document and envisioned in the 2010 NSWP plan. 7 Chapter 7
presents the committee’s vision for a renewed national commitment to a comprehensive program in space
weather and climatology (SWaC). Enabling an effective SWaC capability will require action across multiple
agencies and an integrated program that builds on the strengths of individual agencies.
A1.0 Recharter the National Space Weather Program
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.
7 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. Committee for Space Weather, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services
and Supporting Research, National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan, FCM-P30-2010, August 17, 2010, available at http://
www.ofcm.gov/nswp-sp/fcm-p30.htm.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
8
SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS: A SCIENCE FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Living With a Star
Certain landmark scientific problems are of such scope and complexity that they can be addressed only
with major missions. In the survey committee’s plan, major heliophysics missions would be implemented
within NASA’s LWS program; the survey committee recommends that they continue to be managed and
executed by NASA centers. Other integral thematic elements besides the flight program are essential to the
LWS science and technology program: the unique LWS research, technology, strategic capabilities, and
education programs remain of great value.
R4.0 Implement a large Living With a Star mission to study the ionospherethermosphere-mesosphere system in an integrated fashion.
The survey committee recommends that, following the launch of RBSP and SPP, the next LWS science
target focus on how Earth’s atmosphere absorbs solar wind energy. The recommended reference mission
is Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC).
As detailed in Chapter 4, the GDC reference mission would provide crucial scientific measurements
of the extreme variability of conditions in near-Earth space. Within anticipated budgets, the completion of
the baseline LWS program, which includes the launch of two major missions—RBSP in 2012 and SPP in
2018—does not allow for the launch of a subsequent major mission in heliophysics until 2024, 6 years
after SPP. This establishes what the survey committee regards as the absolute minimum cadence needed
for major missions.
Applications Recommendations: Enabling Effective Space Weather and Climatology Capabilities
Multiple agencies of the federal government have vital interests related to space weather, and efforts to
coordinate these agencies’ activities are seen in the National Space Weather Program (NSWP). Nonetheless, the survey committee concluded that additional approaches are needed to develop the capabilities
outlined in the 2010 National Space Policy document and envisioned in the 2010 NSWP plan. 7 Chapter 7
presents the committee’s vision for a renewed national commitment to a comprehensive program in space
weather and climatology (SWaC). Enabling an effective SWaC capability will require action across multiple
agencies and an integrated program that builds on the strengths of individual agencies.
A1.0 Recharter the National Space Weather Program
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.
7 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. Committee for Space Weather, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services
and Supporting Research, National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan, FCM-P30-2010, August 17, 2010, available at http://
www.ofcm.gov/nswp-sp/fcm-p30.htm.