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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Prototyping a Global Soft X-ray Imaging Instrument for Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics Science

We describe current progress in the development of a prototype wide field-of-view soft X-ray imager that employs Lobster-eye optics and targets heliophysics, planetary, and astrophysics science. The prototype will provide proof-of-concept for a future flight instrument capable of imaging the entire dayside magnetosheath from outside the magnetosphere. Such an instrument was proposed for the FSA AXIOM mission

Collier, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Space Weathering Investigations Enabled by NASA's Virtual Heliophysical Observatories

Structural and chemical impact of the heliospheric space environment on exposed planetary surfaces and interplanetary dust grains may be generally defined as space weathering . In the inner solar system, from the asteroid belt inwards towards the Sun, the surface regolith structures of airless bodies are primarily determined by cumulative meteoritic impacts over billions of years, but the molecular composition to meters in depth can be substantially modified by irradiation effects. Plasma ions at eV to keV energies may both erode uppermost surfaces by sputtering, and implant or locally produce exogenic material, e.g. He-3 and H2O, while more energetic ions drive molecular change through electronic ionization. Galactic cosmic ray ions and more energetic solar ions can impact chemistry to meters in depth. High energy cosmic ray interactions produce showers of secondary particles and energetic photons that present hazards for robotic and human exploration missions but also enable detection of potentially useable resources such as water ice, oxygen, and many other elements. Surface sputtering also makes ejected elemental and molecular species accessible for in-situ compositional analysis by spacecraft with ion and neutral mass spectrometers. Modeling of relative impacts for these various space weathering processes requires knowledge of the incident species-resolved ion flux spectra at plasma to cosmic ray energies and as integrated over varying time scales. Although the main drivers for investigations of these processes come from NASA's planetary science and human exploration programs, the NASA heliophysics program provides the requisite data measurement and modeling resources to enable specification of the field & plasma and energetic particle irradiation environments for application to space weather and surface weathering investigations. The Virtual Heliospheric Observatory (VHO), Virtual Energetic Particle Observatory (VEPO), Lunar Solar Origins Exploration (LunaSOX), and Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) services now provide a wide range of inner heliospheric spacecraft data that can be applied to space weathering of potential exploration destinations including the Moon, asteroids, and the moons of Mars, as well to radiation hazard assessment for the spacecraft and human explorers. For example, the new VEPO service for time-averaging of multi-source ion flux spectra enables the specification of composite flux spectra from a variety of ongoing and legacy missions for applications to surface interaction modeling. Apollo to Artemis data resources of LunaSOX enable specific space weathering investigations for the Moon, while VHO more generally covers the space field and plasma environments of the inner and outer solar system from the sunward-most perihelia of the twin Helios spacecraft to the ongoing heliosheath passages of the twin Voyagers. Composite multi-source spectra from VEPO can also be applied to the continuing compilation of accumulated 1-AU fluence spectra, mostly contributed by solar wind plasma and energetic particle events, for determination of time-averaged particle compositional and kinetic energy output from the Sun and for modeling of long-term irradiation impacts on planetary surfaces.

Cooper, John F.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Lunar Radio Telescopes: A Staged Approach for Lunar Science, Heliophysics, Astrobiology, Cosmology, and Exploration

Observations with radio telescopes address key problems in cosmology, astrobiology, heliophysics, and planetary science including the first light in the Universe (Cosmic Dawn), magnetic fields of extrasolar planets, particle acceleration mechanisms, and the lunar ionosphere. The Moon is a unique science platform because it allows access to radio frequencies that do not penetrate the Earth's ionosphere and because its far side is shielded from intense terrestrial emissions. The instrument packages and infrastructure needed for radio telescopes can be transported and deployed as part of Exploration activities, and the resulting science measurements may inform Exploration (e.g., measurements of lunar surface charging). An illustrative roadmap for the staged deployment of lunar radio telescopes

Moon science platform↗
NASA NTRS2012

Prototyping a Global Soft X-Ray Imaging Instrument for Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics Science

We describe current progress in the development of a prototype wide field-of-view soft X-ray imager that employs Lobstereye optics and targets heliophysics, planetary, and astrophysics science. The prototype will provide proof-of-concept for a future flight instrument capable of imaging the entire dayside magnetosheath from outside the magnetosphere. Such an instrument was proposed for the ESA AXIOM mission.

soft X-ray↗
NASA NTRS2013

Graphene Chemical Sensor for Heliophysics Applications

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms that offer a unique set of advantages as a chemical sensor due to a number of its inherent properties. Graphene has been explored as a gas sensor for a variety of gases, and molecular sensitivity has been demonstrated by measuring the change in electrical properties due to the adsorption of target species. In this paper, we discuss the development of an array of chemical sensors based on graphene and its relevance to plasma physics due to its sensitivity to radical species such as oxonium, hydron and the corresponding neutrals. We briefly discuss the great impact such sensors will have on a number of heliophysics applications such as ground-based manifestations of space weather.

Sultana, Mahmooda↗
NASA NTRS2020

Machine Learning in Heliophysics and space weather forecasting: a white paper of finding and recommendations

The authors of this white paper met on 16-17 January 2020 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology,Newark, NJ, for a 2-day workshop that brought together a group of heliophysicists, data providers,expert modelers, and computer/data scientists. Their objective was to discuss critical developments and prospects of the application of machine and/or deep learning techniques for data analysis, modeling and forecasting in Heliophysics, and to shape a strategy for further developments in the field. The workshop combined a set of plenary sessions featuring invited introductory talks interleaved with a set of open discussion sessions. The outcome of the discussion is encapsulated in this white paper that also features a top-level list of recommendations agreed by participants

HSR↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing a Vision for Maturing the Heliophysics Infrastructure towards Open Science: The DIARieS Analysis Ecosystem

In the dawn of open science and the upcoming requirements, we speak about the existing state of Heliophysics infrastructure and detail the evolution required to address capability or interconnection shortcomings. Such a daunting barrier calls for an analysis ecosystem with multi-faceted capability. We propose such an ecosystem, called DIARieS, to be built upon five conceptual pillars: Discovery, Implementation, Analysis, Reproducibility, and Sharing of results. The combination of these concepts in a single platform will enable users to more intuitively combine recent advances in technology to create ‘DIARieS’ of their workflows, which can be easily made open to others in the community. The DIARieS ecosystem will also increase our efficiency by streamlining our various workflow processes, including automatic incorporation of the impending requirements of open science. The various components of the ecosystem will simplify software installation and data implementation, including automatically generated citation lists based on the components included. Automatic containerization and version control of the ecosystem will make the custom workflows easily reproducible. Employing widget technology will ease the difficulty of producing publication and commercial quality visualizations and applying common analyses techniques. Incorporating multiple technologies will streamline the various sharing methods common in our work environments today. Overall, the totality of capabilities to be offered by this analysis ecosystem will drastically simplify the application of open science principles to our work in addition to improving our efficiency and ease of collaboration. This talk summarizes a vision of the proposed ecosystem, which is described in more detail in Ringuette et al. (2022: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2022.05.012).

infrastructure↗
NASA NTRS2022

The DIARieS Ecosystem – A Software Ecosystem to Simplify Discovery, Implementation, Analysis, Reproducibility, and Sharing of Scientific Results and Environments in Heliophysics

The infrastructure of the Heliophysics discipline has promising components but with several missing gaps, drastically reducing research and development efficiency. Developing an online discovery and analysis software ecosystem will close several of these gaps. The five main focuses on this ecosystem should be Discovery, Implementation, Analysis, Reproducibility, and Sharing of results (DIARieS). In this paper, we give a detailed description of how the proposed software ecosystem should operate, and point out the large range of possible applications to benefit many disparate groups, such as researchers, operational staff, decision-makers, and educators. The infrastructure components and technological capabilities necessary for its completion are either currently available or in development, making such an ecosystem possible for the first time. One main focus of current infrastructure investments must be to adapt and connect these pieces together into a cohesive whole to increase our research and development efficiency.

infrastructure↗
NASA NTRS2022

Developing a Vision for Heliophysics Infrastructure

The current infrastructure in heliophysics acts as a barrier towards progress due to the lack of intelligent connections between the many valuable resources in our field. Due to the large scale of this problem, the path to a productive infrastructure requires community collaboration towards a common vision. This white paper presents a broad overview of what that vision could be and a path forward.

Infrastructure↗
NASA NTRS2022

Major Scientific Challenges and Opportunities in Understanding Magnetic Reconnection and Related Explosive Phenomena in Heliophysics and Beyond

Magnetic reconnection underlies many explosive phenomena in the heliosphere and in laboratory plasmas. New research capabilities in theory/simulations, observations, and laboratory experiments provide the opportunity to solve the grand scientific challenges summarized in this white paper. Success will require enhanced and sustained investments from relevant funding agencies, increased interagency/international partnerships, and close collaborations among the heliophysics, astrophysics, and laboratory plasma communities. These investments will deliver transformative progress in understanding magnetic reconnection and related explosive phenomena including space weather events.

H. Ji↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Demonstrating the Promise and Problems for Open Science in Heliophysics

The recent push towards open science comes with a new set of problems to address. The additional work required to align a project with even the concepts of open science is at best problematic and typically not reasonably possible. The issue is further complicated by the lack of supporting infrastructure for the requirements of open science. We present the first executable paper in heliophysics as an example of how a collaboration between scientists, software developers, and software engineers can streamline the research process. This novel approach to science enables the science result to more easily adhere to the concepts of open science through the application of technology from inception to publication. We also use this paper to demonstrate gaps in our infrastructure that currently prevent progress in our pursuit of open science. This presentation is meant to initiate discussions of the methods and gaps presented, and we hope the discussion will be productive.

infrastructure↗
NASA NTRS2022

Cultivating A Culture of Inclusivity in Heliophysics

The decadal survey will help guide the Heliophysics community to create opportunities for future success. A uniquely fundamental question will drive science innovations and discoveries in the coming decades: What research environment and community will we build? The most innovative scientific ideas and discoveries develop in safe, inclusive, diverse, accessible, and collaborative environments. These environments strengthen all types of collaborations and advance innovations in concepts and applications. If we ignore this critical aspect of science, current issues regarding diversity, retention, and succession will persist. This paper discusses current critical problems and introduces actionable steps that can cultivate a culture of inclusivity.

A.J. Halford↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing a Vision for Maturing the Heliophysics Infrastructure towards Open Science

In the dawn of open science and the upcoming requirements, we speak about the existing state of Heliophysics infrastructure and detail the evolution required to address capability or interconnection shortcomings. Such a daunting barrier calls for an analysis ecosystem with multi-faceted capability. We propose such an ecosystem, called DIARieS, to be built upon five conceptual pillars: Discovery, Implementation, Analysis, Reproducibility, and Sharing of results. The combination of these concepts in a single platform will enable users to more intuitively combine recent advances in technology to create ‘DIARieS’ of their workflows, which can be easily made open to others in the community. The DIARieS ecosystem will also increase our efficiency by streamlining our various workflow processes, including automatic incorporation of the impending requirements of open science. The various components of the ecosystem will simplify software installation and data implementation, including automatically generated citation lists based on the components included. Automatic containerization and version control of the ecosystem will make the custom workflows easily reproducible. Employing widget technology will ease the difficulty of producing publication and commercial quality visualizations and applying common analyses techniques. Incorporating multiple technologies will streamline the various sharing methods common in our work environments today. Overall, the totality of capabilities to be offered by this analysis ecosystem will drastically simplify the application of open science principles to our work in addition to improving our efficiency and ease of collaboration.

Infrastructure↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Open Science in Action: The Role of SWxSOC in Expedited Data Release and Cloud-based Data Processing for Heliophysics Missions

NASA's Space Weather Science Operations Center (SWxSOC) is an effort to develop a multi-mission Science Operations Center for the community and specifically Space Weather missions that require data products to be released consistently and quickly. The SWxSOC is committed to Open Science in its approach to software development and data product releases. We are currently supporting the Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite (HERMES) that will fly on the Lunar Gateway and the PADRE Small Sat mission. SWxSOC has established an open-source, reusable solution for transitioning data management from on-premises to the cloud, processing data files, and setting up a cloud-based analysis environment to monitor instrument anomalies. Leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) and making open-source tools available on GitHub, HERMES exemplifies NASA's commitment to open-source standardization, showcasing the real-world effectiveness of cloud technology in data processing, analysis, and observability. This enhances current operations and ensures faster, standardized deployments for future missions.

hermes↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA’s WB-57F High Altitude Research Aircraft is Looking Up: A Flexible and Capable Heliophysics Platform for Coronal Observations During Total Solar Eclipses

NASA's WB-57F "Canberra" high altitude research aircraft is a unique airborne platform that serves a critical need in airborne science. Although the aircraft has been conventionally used for earth observation/remote sensing and in situ atmospheric sampling, research teams have begun to recognize the aircraft’s emerging role in heliophysics research. With the ability to operate at altitudes in excess of 60,000 feet and with a range of over 2,500 miles, the particular capabilities of the WB-57 are unparalleled by other aircraft in the government or commercial spaces. The Canberra has capacity to carry nearly 9,000 pounds of instrumentation across the aircraft, including modular payload areas in the belly, the nose, wing pods, and wing hatches. The WB-57 features a dedicated "person in the loop" sensor equipment operator, real-time high bandwidth data link between air and ground, and an on-board data network allowing interoperability between multiple systems and operator interfaces. The aircraft has a truly global reach, and has operated out of airfields all over the world with a minimal personnel footprint. The Program maintains a highly qualified engineering team that will work closely with customer requirements to optimize efficiency of payload installation and operation on the aircraft. NASA maintains its own airworthiness authority, allowing a bespoke "in house" approach to aircraft modifications and instrument integration. This often saves months of coordination and cost when compared with commercial options. On 8 April 2024, the WB-57 program executed a one-of-a-kind observation the corona over North America and provided a first-flight opportunity for several instruments that were historically strictly terrestrial. By integrating imagers, spectrometers, and ionosondes on the aircraft, research team partnerships with Southwest Research Institute, University of Hawai’i Institute for Astronomy, and Virginia Tech have demonstrated new and exciting applications for this venerable platform, were able to effectively eliminate the risk of adverse weather spoiling the data collection during totality, and reduce the amount of atmospheric interference in the collected spectral data.

Airborne Science↗
NASA NTRS2009

Heliophysics: The Solar and Space Physics of a New Era. Recommended Roadmap for Science and Technology 2009-2030

Our planet is immersed in a seemingly invisible yet exotic and inherently dangerous environment. Above the protective cocoon of Earth's lower atmosphere is a plasma soup composed of electrified and magnetized matter entwined with penetrating radiation and energetic particles. The Earth's magnetic field interacts with the Sun's outer atmosphere to create this extraordinary environment.

Heliophysics↗