The Next Decade of Discovery in Solar and Space Physics Exploring and Safeguarding Humanity's Home in Space (2025) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

5 Comprehensive Research Strategy: A HelioSystems Laboratory and Supporting Research and Technology
Pages 140-213

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 140...
... . As requested by the sponsors through the statement of task, the research strategy to advance solar and space physics science and space weather research is ambitious, but also realistically achievable.
From page 141...
... The strategy is balanced in that it includes research for the entire community to participate in shaping solar and space physics in the next decade. One common theme in both science and space weather research (Chapters 2 and 3)
From page 142...
... missions (the high-priority missions from the 2013 solar and space physics decadal survey report [NRC 2013; hereafter "the 2013 decadal survey"] that are currently under development)
From page 143...
... For solar and space physics, such coordination and collaboration are major steps forward, and the space weather recommendations highlight some further steps that would continue the positive development. Basic science research and technology development programs are the backbone of the research strategy.
From page 144...
... Increased Opportunities for Instrument NASA and NSF CubeSat, Sounding Rockets, Balloons Development, Expanded Role for HESTO Explorer/MO Launch Every Year in the next Decade NASA Space Weather Program New NOAA Space Weather Research NOAA Space Weather Program Space HSO, Explorers Ground & Flagship LWS Weather CubeSat, DRIVE+ Based Observations Suborbital Modeling and STP Integrated HelioSystems Laboratory FIGURE 5-3 The timeline for realizing the ambitious and realistic research strategy. The HelioSystems Laboratory provides the observations and data, while DRIVE+ provides the underlying research needed to understand and assimilate the observations.
From page 145...
... The 2019 report Progress Toward Implementation of the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics: A Midterm Assessment (NASEM 2020a) recommended that NSF and NASA coordinate their respective ground-based and space-based assets.
From page 146...
... The collaboration with ESA also underscores the important role that international collaboration plays in the integrated HSL. Conclusion: Achieving the vision for solar and space physics and realizing the research strategy requires significantly enhanced communication within and across the funding agencies.
From page 147...
... , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should address the science and space weather goals of the decadal survey by managing space based missions and ground-based instruments within the context of an integrated HelioSystems Laboratory (HSL)
From page 148...
... In response to questions submitted by the decadal survey committee, NASA stated, "the changes implemented in Senior Reviews 2020 and 2023 were driven by program management goals and budget realities." While NASA goals include "ensuring the availability and usability of high-value data products and integrating the HSO projects into Division strategic efforts," the criteria used for decision-making have not been clearly articulated. It may be beneficial to transition missions whose main contributions are the collection of data in strategic regions as part of the HSO (e.g., solar wind measurements)
From page 149...
... The priority MSRI-2 project is FASR, a solar radiotelescope that was a top priority of the 2003 and 2013 solar and space physics decadal surveys (NRC 2003 and NASEM 2013, respectively) , was identified by the 2010 astronomy and astrophysics decadal survey as "doable now" (NRC 2010)
From page 150...
... The unique characteristic of FASR is its ability to make quantitative measurements of chromospheric and coronal magnetic fields, both on the disk and above the limb, in both quiescent plasma and in energetic and dynamic phenomena such as flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and to measure the spatiotemporal evolution of the electron distribution function for both quiescent and explosive phenomena.
From page 151...
... This mid-scale concept was recognized by both the 2003 and 2013 decadal surveys (NASEM 2013; NRC 2003) and the 2015 Space Weather Action Plan (NSTC 2015a)
From page 152...
... The DASHI concept could be realized in multiple ways in terms of number and location of observing sites as well as the instrumentation. Several implementation options were described by the decadal survey panels.
From page 153...
... While there is keen interest in mid-scale infrastructure, larger investments in ground-based infrastructure in support of solar and space physics are also needed. The ngGONG (Figure 5-7)
From page 154...
... Coronal Solar Magnetic field Solar-Heliosphere The dynamical evolution and reconfiguration of the Magnetism magnetic field in the solar atmosphere are critical Observatory processes that underlie a host of outstanding problems (COSMO) concerning the corona and solar wind, and impulsive energy release in flares and eruptions.
From page 155...
... Poker Flat/Resolute Ionosphere– The AMISR network comprising three stations -- Poker Bay IS-Radar Thermosphere– Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR) , Resolute refurbishment Mesosphere and Bay Incoherent Scatter Radar-North (RISR-N)
From page 156...
... For both ground- and space-based data, the use of NOAA data in scientific research and the use of scientific data in NOAA research will be key to advancing the research strategy. For NOAA, Recommendation 3-7 (see Chapter 3, Section 3.3.5)
From page 157...
... landscape and the need to adhere to open science standards. Simply put, developing and maintaining complex community models has become as expensive as building and operating space missions or major ground-based facilities.8 To make progress in solar and space physics, the heliosphere and the heliosystems comprising it need to be treated as complex systems composed of several interacting components.
From page 158...
... To bring about this new era of discovery, the solar and space physics community needs a framework that allows models to efficiently utilize the largest supercomputers and other HPC systems and take advantage of cloud and AI resources, while enabling broad community participation in algorithmic and model development and use. Challenges in harnessing modern HPC technologies include porting highly complex models, often consisting of multiple interconnected components, to increasingly heterogeneous supercomputer architectures while in a way that achieves performance that allows capable simulations on a massive scale.
From page 159...
... These smaller- and shorter-timescale projects have provided significant achievements both independently focusing on targeted research questions and as complementary elements in support of larger missions. In addition, the program has advanced instrument concepts for future explorer and strategic missions and expertise in the solar and space physics community.
From page 160...
... Elements in green are recommended by this decadal survey. NOTE: Acronyms provided in Appendix H
From page 161...
... Since the 2015 launch of the first NASA Heliophysics Division science CubeSat, the Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) ,9 NASA's CubeSat program has expanded significantly.
From page 162...
... The midterm assessment of the 2013 decadal survey pointed out that the CubeSat solicitation was not offered in 2016 or 2017 when the program was reinvented as the Foundation-wide CubeSat Ideas Lab program. In 2022, five NSF-supported CubeSat missions were expected to launch in 2023–2024 timeframe (Sharma 2022)
From page 163...
... NOAA Space Weather Observations The current NOAA missions monitor the Sun and the space environment, providing the data needed to make operative space weather forecasts and predictions. Future missions are designed to provide continuous monitoring of the Sun and the space environment well into the next decade (see Figure 5-9)
From page 164...
... . Space weather research and R2O2R pervades all solar and space physics, to the extent that it is included as a second part of the mission statement of this decadal survey -- to serve humanity.
From page 165...
... The panel review concluded that all new Heliophysics Division missions have the potential for space weather enhancements. Specifically, LEO satellites are ideal platforms to host GNSS receivers with upgraded firmware that enables total electron content (TEC)
From page 166...
... For the systems science–focused themes of this decadal survey, constellation missions, new vantage points, and the HSO become critical elements of the research strategy. The distributed HSO has flexibility and capabilities that evolve with each new mission launched.
From page 167...
... The research strategy for the next decade includes the space weather IMAP Active Link for Real-Time (I-AliRT) system (Spann et al.
From page 168...
... suprathermal ions (future missions only) L5 Vigil Coronagraph imagery HERMES Energetic particles and magnetic fields NASA Solar and ACE Solar wind and IMF Program of solar wind Wind Solar wind and IMF Record IRIS Solar imaging and spectroscopy SDO Solar imaging, magnetic field STEREO Solar imaging SOHO Solar imaging PSP Solar wind and IMF
From page 169...
... As mentioned above, the Panel on Space Weather Science and Applications suggested space weather enhancements for NASA missions. These enhancements are significant because they provide a direct link between the NASA Heliophysics Division and the research to operations efforts of NASA and NOAA.
From page 170...
... Since then, the increased cadence and diversification of the mission classes has resulted in a program that responds rapidly and cost-effectively to science opportunities that evolve over the decadal survey intervals. The program has been an outstanding success, with missions that uniformly achieve their focused science objectives and provide major, new science results during their extended missions.
From page 171...
... Last, implementing the nine Explorer missions currently in development requires more than one launch per year over the next decade to resolve the backlog. Conclusion: The 2013 decadal survey recommendation for Explorers cadence (2–3 years)
From page 172...
... , as submitted in many community input papers to this decadal survey, is not feasible in the current Heliophysics Division–competed (PI-led) mission portfolios.
From page 173...
... STP missions are driven by the need of the science community to understand fundamental physical processes in solar and space physics. These missions make scientific discoveries that close knowledge gaps to advance the first part of the solar and space physics mission to explore our habitable cosmos.
From page 174...
... Pathfinder missions -- The next generation of solar and space physics missions, especially in the magnetosphere and ITM, are mostly implemented as constellations of heterogeneous spacecraft. This completely new type of scientific mission category has multiple spacecraft making different (in situ and remote)
From page 175...
... The magnetospheric imagers provide the first-ever portrayal of the tenuous plasma system engulfing Earth, as the fleet of 24 satellites resolve for the first time the striated plasma flows and structured magnetic fields providing ground truth for the global imagers (Figure 5-13)
From page 176...
... This requires a heterogenous constellation mission that in cludes in situ measurements and remote sensing. If a science and technology definition team study is appropriate for the implementation, then it should be done early in the decadal survey interval in time to support development starting in fiscal year 2027.
From page 177...
... As the solar magnetic field structure is the key driver for space weather (Chapter 3) , the SPO mission has direct relevance for understanding long-term space climate evolution.
From page 178...
... While Tables 5-6 and 5-7 focus on science and the HSL, the integrated HSL also includes NOAA space weather operations. The link between the NOAA space weather operational missions and the space weather themes is presented in complete form in Chapter 3.
From page 179...
... dynamos 3.2b Implications of different solar and stellar flare rates, amplitudes, and distributions 3.2c Differences between the heliosphere and other astrospheres 3.3 What internal and external characteristics have played 3.3a Role of a magnetosphere in planetary atmosphere evolution a role in creating a space environment conducive to life? 3.3b Role of a magnetic field as a shield from external radiation 3.3c Implications of internal particle acceleration, trapping and loss NOTE: The color scheme matches the color scheme for the science questions in Figure S-1.
From page 180...
... 180 THE NEXT DECADE OF DISCOVERY IN SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS TABLE 5-7 Continued Theme 3: New Environments: Theme 1: Sun–Earth–Space: Theme 2: A Laboratory in Space: Exploring Our Cosmic Our Interconnected Home Building Blocks of Understanding Neighborhood and Beyond GQ1.1 GQ1.2 GQ1.3 GQ2.1 GQ2.2 GQ2.3 GQ3.1 GQ3.2 GQ3.3 DYNAMIC 1.1a 1.2b 1.3b 2.2c 2.3b 1.1b 2.3c 1.1c 2.3d IMAP 1.1a 1.2a 1.3b 2.3b 3.2c 1.1c 2.3d GDC 1.1a 1.2b 1.3b 2.2b 2.3b 1.1b 2.2c 2.3c 1.1c 2.3d New Elements of the HSL DASHI 1.1b 1.2b 1.3a 2.2c 2.3b 1.2c 1.3b 2.3c 2.3d FASR 1.1a 1.2b 1.3b 2.2a 2.3a 3.2a 1.1b 1.2c 2.2b 2.3b 3.2b 2.3c ngGONG 1.1a 1.2c 2.1a 3.2a 1.1c 2.1b 3.2b 2.1c SPO 1.1a 1.3a 2.1a 3.2a 1.1b 2.1b 1.1c 2.1c Links 1.1a 1.2a 1.3a 2.2a 2.3a 1.1b 1.2b 2.2b 2.3b 1.1c 1.2c 2.2c Supporting Elements of the HSL for Theme 3 ESCAPADE 3.1b 3.3a 3.1c 3.3b Venus Missions 3.1b 3.3a 3.3b Uranus Orbiter 3.1a 3.3a 3.1c 3.3b 3.3c PLATO 3.2b Juno 3.1a 3.2b 3.3a 3.1b 3.3b 3.1c 3.3c Bepi-Columbo 3.1a 3.3b 3.1b 3.3c Jupiter Icy Moons 3.1b 3.3a Explorer 3.3b 3.3c Europa Clipper 3.1a 3.3a 3.1b 3.3b 3.3c NOTES: The color scheme matches the color scheme for the science questions in Figure S-3. Acronyms provided in Appendix H
From page 181...
... , this decadal survey continues these efforts while evolving them to meet the needs of the coming decade. 12 The 2013 solar and space physics decadal survey recommended, "implementation of a new, integrated, multiagency initiative (DRIVE -- Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate)
From page 182...
... Inset circle images: Drive Centers from ©Pixza/Adobe Stock; Open Science from ©totojang1977/Adobe Stock; Cross Agency/Cross Divisional from ©Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock; Student Training from ©goodluz/Adobe Stock; Cedar, Gem, & Shine from ©AnnaStills/Adobe Stock; Computing/AI from ©frender/Adobe Stock; Space Weather Centers of Excellence from ©Artsiom P/Adobe Stock; Ground Space Data from HSL from ©Windawake/Adobe Stock; HESTO from NASA; Early Career from ©sutadimages/Adobe Stock. 5.3.1 Workforce of Tomorrow Like many areas in modern science, solar and space physics requires a diverse set of tools and a workforce with a broad range of knowledge and skills.
From page 183...
... program in solar and space physics at colleges and universities; and Recommendation 4-4, which asks funding agencies to increase opportunities for researchers to lead summer schools, workshops, and other skill-building activities for undergraduate and graduate students. 5.3.2 Collaboration and Coordination Different aspects of solar and space physics research are supported by different agencies, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature and the diverse types of data and tools required to advance the science.
From page 184...
... These advances make it imperative for the solar and space physics community to develop a sustained cyberinfrastructure ("the hardware, software, networks, data and people that underpin today's advanced information technology"14) for collection, storage, and shared analysis of disparate data sets.
From page 185...
... This is realized through three principal components: research that seeks convergence across NSF directorates, educational pathways that support a data science–literate workforce, and advanced cyberinfrastructure to accelerate data-intensive research. The solar and space physics community can build on this Big Idea through a coordinated strategy among NASA Heliophysics Division, NSF Geospace Section, NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences, and relevant parts of NOAA.
From page 186...
... • NASA Heliophysics Division should integrate data-storage and data-sharing facilities, such as the space physics data facility, virtual observatories, and mission science gateways, into the new cyberinfrastructure. • Integration of data systems should include coordination with NOAA, which should invest in the capability to provide data in formats compatible with the research data.
From page 187...
... The Space Weather Centers of Excellence selected in 2023 combine expertise from a broad range of solar and space physics, and in many cases, also from the AI and machine learning research communities. These investments expand the solar and space physics community into the information sciences area and foster engagement with organizations developing or using the space weather information (e.g., NOAA, companies developing space weather products, and the space weather user community)
From page 188...
... There is considerable community interest in expansion of such opportunities, demonstrated, for example, by grassroots activities such as the Whole Heliosphere and Planetary Interactions initiative and the recently initiated NSF Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) focus group "Comparative Planetary Magnetospheric Processes." At the intersection of solar and space physics and Earth sciences research, modeling studies (e.g., Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model-eXtended [WACCM-X]
From page 189...
... However, in 2020, the astronomy and astrophysics decadal survey narrowed its scope to solar physics done in the service of astronomy. Thus, the AST division needs to respond to two decadal surveys (astronomy and astrophysics, solar and space physics)
From page 190...
... NSF should con duct a study to examine possible organizational structures within the foundation that would serve these disciplines in an optimal way. The study would examine • Potential advantages and disadvantages of creating a single new division covering all fields of solar and space physics; • Other solutions for addressing challenges arising from the organizational separations; • Practices that ensure adequate support for all research areas and enable convergent research; and • The challenges associated with incorporating recommendations from multiple decadal surveys within a single division or section.
From page 191...
... , deliver to the Space Physics Data Facility, and carry out scientific validation. Realizing the Scientific Potential of Archival Data In addition to the increased number of infrastructure missions for which scientific data analysis is not supported as part of the mission funding, some Heliophysics Division missions have ended their operations.
From page 192...
... Many, especially smaller, institutions do not have existing personnel and support structures for open science, and grant holders are left to find individual solutions, leading to researcher time being used for operational tasks. While the decadal survey committee generally supports NASA Heliophysics Division efforts to transition existing software to open source, the increased costs need to be compensated for in new grants.
From page 193...
... Proposal success rates specific to solar and space physics at NSF are not available to the committee or the public, thus it is difficult to assess whether the level of funding is adequate. It would be valuable if NSF and NOAA could similarly assess whether the grant size and proposal success rates for their research programs meet current needs.
From page 194...
... research is critical to sustaining a healthy and productive overall solar and space physics research program. The NASA hierarchy of T&M funding programs is shown, including the new recommended flagship community science modeling (CSM)
From page 195...
... Therefore, HTMS no longer serves the originally intended purpose efficiently. The inclusion of T&M early in the formulation of NASA missions is also critically important because much of the scientific research in solar and space physics relies on the synthesis of observations and modeling.
From page 196...
... Laboratory Space Plasma Advancing Solar and Space Physics Laboratory plasma physics has made useful contributions to understanding of space plasmas. Several laboratory experiments have facilitated comparisons with solar and heliophysics conditions, enabling direct comparisons with solar and space physics observations and models.
From page 197...
... The current facilities developed and used over the past decade do not cover the full range of scales in collisionless regimes mostly targeted by solar and space physics missions. To complement spacecraft observations and numerical simulations, the need for a next-generation laboratory facility is under discussion -- for example, the "Solar Wind Machine," which would isolate, control, and diagnose plasma phenomena related to complex solar wind behavior and would have the ability to operate in the collisionless regime and to cover a wider range of scales than the existing laboratory experiments.
From page 198...
... The need for multipoint measurements is a theme that emerged from the mission concepts introduced in the community input papers to this decadal survey and were further developed by the panels to address priority science. Many of the mission concepts involve heterogeneous constellations, which comprise several types of measurements made from different vantage points.
From page 199...
... As mentioned above, the success of NASA's CubeSat program is demonstrated by the incorporation of CubeSat instruments in the mission concepts proposed in the community input papers to this decadal survey. Suborbital and CubeSat missions are not only testbeds for technology; they are platforms for gaining mission and leadership experience.
From page 200...
... NASA should consider expanding the role of the Heliophysics Strategic Technology Office to manage some of these activities and increase collaboration with the Space Technology Mission Directorate as appropriate. 5.4 PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND The decadal survey research strategy provides the framework for making significant progress in each of the focused research areas identified in Chapter 2.
From page 201...
... One lingering, crucial challenge in space physics is mapping of magnetic field lines from the equatorial plane to Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere. There are several techniques to approximate this mapping, including use of sophisticated magnetic field models.
From page 202...
... NOTE: Notional mission concepts referenced are BRAVO (Buoyancy Restoring-force Atmospheric-wave Vertical-propagation Observatory) , I-CIRCUIT (Interhemispheric Circuit)
From page 203...
... The TRACE analysis of this decadal survey also revealed some other challenges that will need to be solved to realize this new mission architecture. Before large science constellations can be realized, it is likely that mission assurance guidance and related mission risk class and life cycle cost analysis need to be revised.
From page 204...
... Energy transfers between ions and neutrals in either direction, depending on the dominant driving mechanism, and regulates the interaction between the upper atmosphere/ionosphere and the magnetosphere/solar wind. Coordinated multipoint in situ measurements and distributed ground-based observatories will be a gamechanger for understanding this region.
From page 205...
... B and C, studied by current decadal survey, are included for reference (Table 5-10)
From page 206...
... . The notional space science mission concepts created for this decadal survey included assessing the optimal use of the heterogeneous NASA network (DSN, NSN, and commercial partners)
From page 207...
... Some of the most pressing and fundamental questions are shared across science divisions at NASA, and the unique expertise and skills of scientists from across SMD need to be harnessed to forge new frontiers. The solar and space physics community has developed a detailed expertise in understanding how a star interacts with its planets and is eager to share that knowledge in partnership with other divisions.
From page 208...
... An example of a smaller mission is MAVEN where a Planetary Discovery mission included substantial Heliophysics objectives on the solar wind interaction with Mars's atmosphere and ionosphere. For much earlier missions -- Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, and MESSENGER -- space physics goals were included in the original science objectives and highly capable (for the time)
From page 209...
... As pointed out earlier, the scientific value of such collaboration has been recognized and strongly encouraged by previous solar and space physics decadal surveys, and NSF, NASA, and NOAA are to be applauded for their wide-ranging engagement with the international community. Looking forward, this section highlights specific opportunities for coordination with international partners.
From page 210...
... 2022. "The Need for a Large-Scale Dense Array of Ground Based Observatories to Monitor Thermospheric and Space Weather." Community input paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics)
From page 211...
... 2022. "Solaris: A Focused Solar Polar Discovery-Class Mission to Achieve the Highest Priority Heliophysics Science Now." Community input paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics)
From page 212...
... 2003. The Sun to the Earth -- and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics.
From page 213...
... 2023. "SCaN Program Presentation to the National Academies Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics/ Heliophysics, Working Group on Communications Infrastructure and Innovations." Presentation to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics)


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.