Download Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap: 2005-2035

Sun-Solar System Connection
Roadmap: 2005-2035
NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Sun-Solar System Connection Objectives
Agency Strategic Objective: Explore the Sun-Earth system to understand the Sun and its effects on the Earth,
the solar system, and the space environmental conditions that will be experienced by human explorers, and
demonstrate technologies that can improve future operational systems
Open the Frontier to Space Environment Prediction
Understand the fundamental physical processes of the
space environment – from the Sun to Earth, to other
planets, and beyond to the interstellar medium
Understand the Nature of Our Home in Space
Understand how human society, technological
systems, and the habitability of planets are affected
by solar variability and planetary magnetic fields
Safeguard The Journey of Exploration
Maximize the safety and productivity of human and
robotic explorers by developing the capability to
predict the extreme and dynamic conditions in space
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
External and Internal Factors
• We are poised to transform knowledge and provide predictive
understanding of the SSSC system
• Our technological society needs space weather
knowledge to function efficiently
• Human beings require space weather
predictions to work safely and productively
in space
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Nature of the Challenge
 A quantitative, predictive
understanding of a complex
system of systems
 Microphysical processes
regulate global &
interplanetary structures
 Multi-constituent plasmas
and complex photochemistry
 Non-linear dynamic
responses
Solar CME engulfing the Earth: http://sun.stanford.edu/roadmap/NewZoom2.mov
 Integration and synthesis of
multi-point observations
 Data assimilative models &
theory
 Interdisciplinary communities
and tools
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
We Have Already Begun!
Space Storms at Earth
Disturbed Mars-Space &
Atmospheric Loss
Dangerous
Radiation
Space Storms at
the Outer Planets
Disturbed Upper
Atmosphere
Solar System
Blast Wave
 Current Sun-Earth missions provide a prototype “SSSC Great Observatory”,
providing a first look at the system level view and informing the roadmap plan
 Theory, modeling, and observational tools now exist or can be developed to yield
both transformational knowledge of the Sun-Earth system and provide needed
tools and space weather knowledge for human exploration and societal needs
 The SSSC Great Observatory must adapt as new questions and capabilities
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Sun Solar System Connection Roadmap Development
National Objectives
Elements of Strategy
NAS Decadal
Survey and
additional
studies
NASA Strategic Objective #15
OSS/SEC 2003
Roadmaps
Research Focus Areas
Framework
Vision for
Space
Exploration
Objectives
Frontier, Home, Journey
Investigations
Potential Achievements
Missions & Supporting
Elements
Flow Down:
Setting Priorities
Required Understanding
Capability
Measurements
Current Budget Mission Scenario
Optimized Mission Scenario
STP
LWS
Explorers
Great
Observatory
Low Cost
Access
to Space
Technology
Supporting
Research
Programs
Education &
Public
Outreach
NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Open the Frontier to Space Weather Prediction
Understand the fundamental physical
processes of the space environment –
from the Sun to Earth, to other planets,
and beyond to the interstellar medium
1) Understand magnetic reconnection as
revealed in solar flares, coronal mass
ejections, and geospace storms
2) Understand the plasma processes
that accelerate and transport particles
throughout the solar system
3) Understand the role of plasma neutral
interactions in nonlinear coupling of
regions throughout the solar system
4) Understand the creation of variability
of magnetic dynamos and how they
drive the dynamics of solar, planetary
and stellar environments
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Understand the Nature of our Home in Space
Understand how human society, technological
systems, and the habitability of planets are affected
by solar variability and planetary magnetic fields
1) Understand the causes and subsequent
evolution of solar activity that affects
Earth’s space climate and environment
2) Understand changes in the Earth’s
magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper
atmosphere to enable specification,
prediction, and mitigation of their effects
3) Understand the Sun's role as an energy
source to the Earth’s atmosphere,
particularly the role of solar variability in
driving atmospheric and climate change
4) Apply our understanding of space
plasma physics to the role of stellar
activity and magnetic shielding in
planetary system evolution and habitability
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Safeguard the Journey of Exploration
Maximize the safety and productivity of
human and robotic explorers by
developing the capability to predict the
extreme and dynamic conditions in space
1) Characterize the variability and
extremes of the space environments
that will be encountered by human and
robotic explorers
2) Develop the capability to predict the
origin of solar activity and disturbances
associated with potentially hazardous
space weather
3) Develop the capability to predict the
acceleration and propagation of
energetic particles in order to enable
safe travel for human and robotic
explorers
4) Understand how space weather
affects planetary environments to
minimize risk in exploration activities
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NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap
Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap Goal Structure
Phase 1: 2005-2015
Open the
Frontier to
Space
Environment
Prediction
Understand
the Nature of
our Home in
Space
Safeguard the
Journey of
Exploration
Phase 2: 2015-2025
Measure magnetic reconnection at Model the magnetic processes that
the Sun and Earth
drive space weather
Phase 3: 2025-beyond
Predict solar magnetic activity and
energy release
Determine the dominant
processes and sites of particle
acceleration
Identify key processes that couple
solar and planetary atmospheres to
the heliosphere and beyond
Quantify particle acceleration for the Predict high energy particle flux
key regions of exploration
throughout the solar system.
Understand non-linear processes
and couplings to predict
atmospheric and space
environments
Understand the interactions of
disparate astrophysical systems
Understand how solar
disturbances propagate to Earth
Identify precursors of important
solar disturbances
Analyze the first direct samples of the
interstellar medium
Identify how space weather
effects are produced in
Geospace
Discover how space plasmas and
planetary atmospheres interact
Quantify mechanisms and
processes required for Geospace
forecasting
Determine how magnetic fields,
solar wind and irradiance affect
habitability of solar system bodies
Enable continuous scientific
forecasting of conditions throughout
the solar system
Determine how stellar variability
governs the formation and evolution
of habitable planets
Identify impacts of solar
variability on Earth’s atmosphere
Integrate solar variability effects
into Earth climate models
Forecast atmospheric and climate
change (joint w/ Earth Science)
Determine extremes of the variable Characterize the near-Sun source
radiation and space environments
region of the space environment
at Earth, Moon, & Mars
Nowcast solar and space weather
and forecast “All-Clear” periods for
space explorers near Earth
Provide situational awareness of the
space environment throughout the
inner Solar System
Reliably forecast space weather for Reliably predict atmospheric and
the Earth-Moon system and begin radiation environment at Mars to
nowcasts at Mars
ensure safe surface operations
Determine Mars atmospheric
variability relevant to Exploration
• Develop technologies, observations, and knowledge systems that support operational systems
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Sun-Solar System Mission Recommendations
Phase 1
Sun-Earth-Moon System
Characterization of System
Phase 2
Sun - Terrestrial Planets
Modeling of System Elements
Future Mission Recommendations
Solar:
:
SDO, Solar-B
Solar Processes:
CMEs & Heliosphere:
Geospace System Impacts:
GEC, GEMINI, MagCon
Radiation:
Climate Impacts:
LRO, MSL, ADAM
Mars Atmospheric Reconnaissance Satellite
Space Weather Stations:
DBC, FS/Shields
Planetary Orbiters:
IoE, SCOPE, NO, TE, VAP
Solar System Space Weather:
Interstellar Medium:
SEPM, SWBuoys
Interstellar Probe
Planetary Orbiters:
Habitability:
Pluto/Kuiper, JPO/JUNO
Solar Probe
2005
Solar System Space Weather:
Heliostorm
Interstellar Boundary: IBEX
Inner Boundary:
Already In Development or Formulation
Explorer
Partnership
Recommended
AAMP, IMC, ITMC, ITMW
Mars Atmosphere:
SDO, AIM
Moon, Mars Awareness:
Geospace System Impacts:
L1 Earth-Sun, SECEP
Geospace Impacts:
Heliospheric Structure &
Disturbances:
HIGO, SPI/Telemachus
Climate Impacts:
RBSP, IHSentinels
Solar Processes:
MTRAP, RAM
Solar Orbiter
SDO, STEREO, IHSentinels, Solar Sail
Demo
MMS, RBSP, THEMIS, ITSP/ITImager
Phase 3
Sun-Solar System
System Forecasting
Stellar Imager
Forecast
Hazards
Characterize
Environments
Model
Systems
2015
2025
2035
Distributed small assets that form an evolving sensor web to sample the vast connection from the Sun to planetary environments and beyond
Sun-Solar System Mission Recommendations
Optimized Program
In Development
In Development
Recommended
Partnership
New Initiative
Partnership
Flagship missions and partnerships:
Recommendation: Obtain additional resources and work with partners to implement these missions
Sun-Solar System Mission Recommendations
Current Constrained Budget Lines
In Development
Recommended
New Initiative
Partnership
Flagship missions and partnerships:
Recommendation: Obtain additional resources and work with partners to implement these missions
Optimized program will require more resources …
Sun-Solar System Connection Summary