(Washington, D.C.) One could argue that the term, heliophysics, is a recent term. The reason that recent is argued, is due to the fact that, it was used to say the physics of the sun. Coincidentally and at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (N.A.S.A.), heliophysics is also a research field. N.A.S.A.’s Explorers Program, to be more specific about the previously said, is a space exploration program. Additionally; it provides space flight opportunities for physics, geophysics, heliophysics and astrophysics research based investigations from space. Recently, N.A.S.A. announced that, the research based work of the Explorers Program continues. Specifically, the aforementioned U.S. Government agency revealed that, it has selected three proposals for concept studies of missions. Technically, the previous are being called, Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals. The objective, is to better understand the dynamic space weather system that, is driven by the sun.
The dynamic space weather system that, is driven by the sun, is what is going to be investigated from space. As previously said and to be able to accomplish this effort, N.A.S.A. has officially selected three; Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals. The three Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals are E.U.V.S.T., A.E.T.H.E.R. and E.Z.I.E. E.U.V.S.T. is an acronym that means extreme ultraviolet high-throughput spectroscopic telescope epsilon mission. A.E.T.H.E.R. is an acronym that means aeronomy at Earth: tools for heliophysics exploration and research. Finally, E.Z.I.E. is an acronym that means electrojet Zeeman imaging explorer. However and returning to, N.A.S.A.’s Explorers Program, the aforementioned is divided into three types of classes. The term classes, is used in reference to research, or, research fields. The three classes are medium-class explorers (M.I.D.E.X.), small explorers (S.M.E.X.) and university-class explorers (U.N.E.X.). The idea is to have research fields, fall under one of these classes. Then, N.A.S.A. attempts to help by providing select “missions of opportunity.” Through the missions of opportunity; researchers work in conjunction with other agencies, and, N.A.S.A. partners. At the end; it is hoped that successful research has been conducted, through, actual investigations from space.
Returning to, the three Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals, the aforementioned will receive an initial $400,000 USD. The money is intended to be used, in order, to develop a nine month concept study. The next step after that, is N.A.S.A. actually choosing one. The selected proposal will become an actual mission of opportunity, and, it will be given a launch date. Already, N.A.S.A. has decided the potential launch date and opportunity, for each proposal. It is estimated that the chosen proposal and subsequent space mission, will cost approximately $55 million USD. In other words, the previously stated figure, is also, the maximum amount of money that can be spent. As previously said; the three Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals are E.U.V.S.T., A.E.T.H.E.R. and E.Z.I.E. E.U.V.S.T. has Clarence Korendyke as the principal investigator. Mr. Clarence Korendyke is from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. He will attempt to provide an answer to a fundamental question of solar physics. The question is; how does the interplay of solar material— a hot plasma—and magnetic fields drive solar activity and eruptions, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections? Observations, will be the primary research method that, will be employed. If chosen, this proposal will have a launch date, sometime in the year 2025. Additionally, the space mission would include the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Solar-C Mission. A.E.T.H.E.R. has James Clemmons as the principal investigator. Mr. James Clemmons is from the University of New Hampshire Durham. He will attempt to explore the ionosphere-thermosphere system, and, the response to geomagnetic storms. Observation from a position aboard the International Space Station, will be the primary research method that, will be employed. Mr. James Clemmons, also hopes that, his research will show how neutral; terrestrial weather driven thermosphere interacts with the ionosphere’s charged particles. If chosen, this proposal will have a launch date, sometime in the year 2024. E.Z.I.E. has Jeng-Hwa Yee as the principal investigator. Mr. Jeng-Hwa Yee is from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He will attempt to study an electric current known as, the auroral electrojet. The auroral electrojet is an electrical current that circles around and near; the north and south poles. Specifically, it circles around and through the atmosphere at about 60 to 90 miles, above the Planet Earth. Small satellites that will measure the magnetic field, will be the primary research method that, will be employed. Mr. Jeng-Hwa Yee also hopes to show that, electrojets are part of a larger space weather system. If chosen, this proposal will have a launch date, sometime in the year 2024.
To end, N.A.S.A. did release a press statement. Peg Luce is the Deputy Director for Heliophysics of the Science Mission Directorate at N.A.S.A. Through a press statement, Ms./Mrs. Luce said the following. “NASA’s research to understand the space we travel through relies on exploring key details about a vast system from the Sun, to Earth, to the edges of the solar system. Each of these proposals could add a significant tool from a unique vantage point to help us understand that system.” As previously stated, N.A.S.A. recently announced that, the research based work of the Explorers Program continues. Specifically, the aforementioned U.S. Government agency revealed that, it has selected three proposals for concept studies of missions. Technically, the previous are being called, Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity Proposals. Lastly and the objective, is to better understand the dynamic space weather system that, is driven by the sun.
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Written from Press Release
Registered Writer with
PR Newswire Association, LLC
R-Berumen28
09/07/2019
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