The National Academy of Sciences has released the long-awaited heliophysics decadal survey, which provides a comprehensive roadmap for NASA’s future research endeavors in the field of heliophysics. The survey, conducted by a committee of experts in the field, recommends two flagship missions for NASA to explore the Sun and its interactions with the solar system.
The first flagship mission, known as the Solar Corona and Inner Heliosphere Mission (SCIM), is designed to study the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun. The corona is a region of intense interest for scientists, as it is the source of the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that affects the entire solar system. SCIM will use a combination of in situ and remote sensing observations to study the corona and its interactions with the solar wind.
The second flagship mission, known as the Magnetosphere and Beyond (MAB) mission, is designed to study the Earth’s magnetosphere and its interactions with the solar wind. The magnetosphere is a region around the Earth that is influenced by the solar wind, and it plays a critical role in protecting the planet from harmful radiation. MAB will use a combination of in situ and remote sensing observations to study the magnetosphere and its interactions with the solar wind.
In addition to the two flagship missions, the decadal survey recommends several smaller missions and research initiatives to support the scientific objectives of the heliophysics community. These include missions to study the Sun’s magnetic field, the solar wind, and the effects of space weather on the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The decadal survey also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in heliophysics research. The committee recommends that NASA work closely with international partners to develop and launch joint missions, and to share data and research results.
The heliophysics decadal survey is a critical document that will guide NASA’s research priorities in the field of heliophysics for the next decade. The survey is the result of a comprehensive review of the scientific landscape in heliophysics, and it provides a roadmap for the most important research questions and objectives in the field.
The committee that conducted the survey consisted of experts from a variety of fields, including solar physics, space plasma physics, and planetary science. The committee was chaired by Dr. Daniel Baker, a professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The decadal survey is a significant milestone in the field of heliophysics, and it will play a critical role in shaping the future of research in this field. The recommendations outlined in the survey will help to guide NASA’s research priorities and funding decisions for the next decade, and they will have a major impact on our understanding of the Sun and its interactions with the solar system.
The heliophysics decadal survey is a comprehensive document that covers a wide range of topics related to heliophysics research. The survey begins with an overview of the current state of knowledge in heliophysics, and it discusses the major research questions and objectives in the field.
The survey then goes on to discuss the scientific objectives and requirements for the two flagship missions, SCIM and MAB. The committee provides a detailed discussion of the scientific goals and objectives for each mission, as well as the technical requirements and challenges that must be addressed.
In addition to the two flagship missions, the survey recommends several smaller missions and research initiatives to support the scientific objectives of the heliophysics community. These include missions to study the Sun’s magnetic field, the solar wind, and the effects of space weather on the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The survey also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in heliophysics research. The committee recommends that NASA work closely with international partners to develop and launch joint missions, and to share data and research results.
The decadal survey concludes with a discussion of the budget and resource requirements for the recommended missions and research initiatives. The committee provides a detailed breakdown of the estimated costs and resources required for each mission, as well as a discussion of the budget and resource challenges that must be addressed.
Overall, the heliophysics decadal survey is a significant document that will play a critical role in shaping the future of research in this field. The recommendations outlined in the survey will help to guide NASA’s research priorities and funding decisions for the next decade, and they will have a major impact on our understanding of the Sun and its interactions with the solar system.
