NASA Selects Two Heliophysics Missions for Continued Development

Unlocking the Secrets of the Sun: NASA Selects Two Heliophysics Missions for Continued Development

As the world's most advanced space agency, NASA continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. In a recent announcement, NASA has selected two heliophysics mission concepts for continued development, marking a significant step forward in our quest to unlock the secrets of the Sun and its impact on our planet.

CINEMA: Unraveling the Mystery of Magnetic Convection

The first mission concept selected for continued development is CINEMA (Cross-scale Investigation of Earth's Magnetotail and Aurora). Led by principal investigator Robyn Millan from Dartmouth College, CINEMA aims to advance our understanding of how plasma energy flows into the Earth's magnetosphere. This highly dynamic convective flow is unpredictable, sometimes steady and sometimes explosive, driving phenomena like fast plasma jets, global electrical current systems, and spectacular auroral displays.

"The CINEMA mission will help us to research magnetic convection in Earth's magnetosphere — a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding why some space weather events are so influential, such as causing magnificent aurora displays and impacts to ground- and space-based infrastructure, and others seem to fizzle out," said Joe Westlake, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Using a constellation of nine small satellites in a polar low Earth orbit, CINEMA will investigate the convective mystery using a combination of instruments: an energetic particle detector, an auroral imager, and a magnetometer. By relating the energetic particles observed in this orbit to simultaneous auroral images and local magnetic field measurements, CINEMA aims to connect energetic activity in Earth's large-scale magnetic structure to the visible signatures like aurora that we see in the ionosphere.

CMEx: Unveiling the Secrets of the Sun's Chromosphere

The second mission concept selected for continued development is CMEx (Chromospheric Magnetism Explorer). Led by principal investigator Holly Gilbert from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, CMEx aims to diagnose lower layers of the Sun's chromosphere to understand the origin of solar eruptions and determine the magnetic sources of the solar wind.

Using proven UV spectropolarimetric instrumentation that has been demonstrated during NASA's CLASP (Chromospheric Layer Spectropolarimeter) sub-orbital sounding rocket flight, CMEx will be able to study the Sun's chromosphere in unprecedented detail. This mission concept has been selected for an extended Phase A study, which will last 12 months and cost $2 million.

Why These Missions Matter

These two mission concepts are significant not only because they will advance our understanding of the Sun and its impact on our planet but also because they have real-world applications. By improving our ability to predict solar events, we can mitigate danger to astronauts near Earth, at the Moon, or Mars. We can also protect our ground- and space-based infrastructure from the impacts of space weather.

Forward-Looking Thoughts

As we continue to explore the universe and push the boundaries of our understanding, we must also consider the implications of our discoveries. The CINEMA and CMEx missions are just two examples of the many ways in which NASA is working to unlock the secrets of the Sun and its impact on our planet. As we look to the future, we must continue to invest in these types of missions and research, not only to advance our understanding of the universe but also to ensure the safety and security of our planet.

Conclusion

The selection of the CINEMA and CMEx mission concepts for continued development marks a significant step forward in our quest to unlock the secrets of the Sun and its impact on our planet. These missions have the potential to advance our understanding of the universe and have real-world applications that can mitigate danger to astronauts and protect our ground- and space-based infrastructure. As we continue to explore the universe and push the boundaries of our understanding, we must also consider the implications of our discoveries and continue to invest in these types of missions and research.

Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-two-heliophysics-missions-for-continued-development/