NASA Heliophysics Program [email_address]

Science Questions: How and why does the Sun vary? How do the Earth and other planetary systems respond? What are the impacts on humanity?

Research Objectives: Understand the fundamental physical processes of the space environment from the Sun to the Earth, to other planets, and beyond to the interstellar medium. Understand how human society, technological systems, and the habitability of planets are affected by solar variability and planetary magnetic fields. Develop the capability to predict the extreme and dynamic conditions in space in order to maximize the safety of human and robotic explorers.

Research Objectives:

Understand the fundamental physical processes of the space environment from the Sun to the Earth, to other planets, and beyond to the interstellar medium.

Understand how human society, technological systems, and the habitability of planets are affected by solar variability and planetary magnetic fields.

Develop the capability to predict the extreme and dynamic conditions in space in order to maximize the safety of human and robotic explorers.

NASA Heliosphere Program: About $600 Million per year, within the NASA Science Mission Directorate Heliosphere Programs Living with a Star: SDO, RBSP, Barrel, Solar Probe Solar Terrestrial Probes: STEREO, MMS Heliophysics Explorers: THEMIS, AIM, IBEX Suborbital Programs, Research and Analysis, Operating missions and modeling

NASA Heliosphere Program:

About $600 Million per year, within the NASA Science Mission Directorate

Heliosphere Programs

Living with a Star: SDO, RBSP, Barrel, Solar Probe

Solar Terrestrial Probes: STEREO, MMS

Heliophysics Explorers: THEMIS, AIM, IBEX

Suborbital Programs, Research and Analysis, Operating missions and modeling

Bow shock in the Orion Nebula

Solar variability 1996 - 2006

Solar Dynamics Observatory [SDO] SDO Investigations : Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI); PI: Phil Scherrer – Stanford; Images the Sun’s helioseismic and magnetic fields to understand the Sun’s interior and magnetic activity. LMSAL is prime for the instrument. Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Guide Telescopes (GT); PI: Alan Title – LMSAL; Multiple simultaneous, high-resolution images of the corona over a wide range of temperatures. Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE); PI: Tom Woods – LASP, Univ. of CO; measures the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance to understand variations. Approximate deployed characteristics (current best estimates): Mass: 3000 kg Power: 1000W Width: 6 m Height: 4.7 m HMI EVE Instrument Module S/C Bus & Prop. Modules (2) Solar Arrays (2) Antenna Booms AIA SUITE

SDO Investigations :

Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI); PI: Phil Scherrer – Stanford; Images the Sun’s helioseismic and magnetic fields to understand the Sun’s interior and magnetic activity. LMSAL is prime for the instrument.

Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Guide Telescopes (GT); PI: Alan Title – LMSAL; Multiple simultaneous, high-resolution images of the corona over a wide range of temperatures.

Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE); PI: Tom Woods – LASP, Univ. of CO; measures the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance to understand variations.

Approximate deployed characteristics (current best estimates):

Mass: 3000 kg

Power: 1000W

Width: 6 m

Height: 4.7 m

The Radiation Belt Storm Probes [RBSP] Mission Radiation Belt Storm Probes – twin spacecraft in highly elliptical orbits to understand the basic principles behind relativistic particle acceleration, transport, and loss. Exploring Earth’s Van Allen Radiation Belts Launch 2012 Perigee: ~700 km altitude Apogee ~5.5 Re geocentric altitude Inclination ~10 degrees Sun pointing, spin stabilized Duration 2 years (expendables 4 years)

Interstellar Boundary Explorer [IBEX] Mission to Image the Heliosphere

Solar Probe 2015 Why is the solar corona much hotter than the surface of the sun? How is the solar wind accelerated? How are solar energetic particles produced? Probe within 10 solar radii