Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap:

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 2 Open the Frontier to Space Environment Prediction Understand the Nature of Our Home in Space Safeguard The Journey of Exploration Understand the fundamental physical processes of the space environment – from the Sun to Earth, to other planets, and beyond to the interstellar medium Understand how human society, technological systems, and the habitability of planets are affected by solar variability and planetary magnetic fields Maximize the safety and productivity of human and robotic explorers by developing the capability to predict the extreme and dynamic conditions in space 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

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 3 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

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 4 Nature of the Challenge  Integration and synthesis of multi-point observations  Data assimilative models & theory  Interdisciplinary communities and tools  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:

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 5 Disturbed Upper Atmosphere Space Storms at the Outer Planets Solar System Blast Wave Disturbed Mars-Space & Atmospheric Loss Dangerous Radiation Space Storms at Earth We Have Already Begun!  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 arise.

STPLWSExplorers Great Observatory Low Cost Access to Space Technology Education & Public Outreach Supporting Research Programs National Objectives NASA Strategic Objective #15 Optimized Mission Scenario Objectives Frontier, Home, Journey Research Focus Areas Investigations Missions & Supporting Elements Setting Priorities Current Budget Mission Scenario Vision for Space Exploration Potential Achievements Flow Down: Required Understanding Capability Measurements Framework NAS Decadal Survey and additional studies OSS/SEC 2003 Roadmaps Elements of Strategy Sun Solar System Connection Roadmap Development

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 7 2) Understand the plasma processes that accelerate and transport particles throughout the solar system 1) Understand magnetic reconnection as revealed in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and geospace storms 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 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

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 8 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 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

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 9 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 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

NASA Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap 10 Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap Goal Structure Phase 1: Phase 2: Phase 3: 2025-beyond Develop technologies, observations, and knowledge systems that support operational systems Open the Frontier to Space Environment Prediction Understand the Nature of our Home in Space Safeguard the Journey of Exploration Measure magnetic reconnection at the Sun and Earth Model the magnetic processes that drive space weather Predict solar magnetic activity and energy release Determine the dominant processes and sites of particle acceleration Quantify particle acceleration for the key regions of exploration Predict high energy particle flux throughout the solar system. Identify key processes that couple solar and planetary atmospheres to the heliosphere and beyond 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 Quantify mechanisms and processes required for Geospace forecasting Enable continuous scientific forecasting of conditions throughout the solar system Discover how space plasmas and planetary atmospheres interact Determine how magnetic fields, solar wind and irradiance affect habitability of solar system bodies 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 radiation and space environments at Earth, Moon, & Mars Characterize the near-Sun source region of the space environment Provide situational awareness of the space environment throughout the inner Solar System Nowcast solar and space weather and forecast “All-Clear” periods for space explorers near Earth Reliably forecast space weather for the Earth-Moon system and begin nowcasts at Mars Reliably predict atmospheric and radiation environment at Mars to ensure safe surface operations Determine Mars atmospheric variability relevant to Exploration

Phase 1 Sun-Earth-Moon System Characterization of System Phase 1 Sun-Earth-Moon System Characterization of System Phase 2 Sun - Terrestrial Planets Modeling of System Elements Phase 2 Sun - Terrestrial Planets Modeling of System Elements Model Systems Model Systems Characterize Environments Characterize Environments Forecast Hazards Forecast Hazards Phase 3 Sun-Solar System System Forecasting Phase 3 Sun-Solar System System Forecasting Solar: SDO, Solar-B CMEs & Heliosphere: SDO, STEREO, IHSentinels, Solar Sail Demo Radiation: RBSP, IHSentinels Geospace Impacts: MMS, RBSP, THEMIS, ITSP/ITImager Climate Impacts: SDO, AIM Moon, Mars Awareness: LRO, MSL, ADAM Interstellar Boundary: IBEX Inner Boundary: Solar Probe : Solar Processes: MTRAP, RAM Heliospheric Structure & Disturbances: HIGO, SPI/Telemachus Geospace System Impacts: AAMP, IMC, ITMC, ITMW Solar System Space Weather: DBC, FS/Shields Planetary Orbiters: IoE, SCOPE, NO, TE, VAP Interstellar Medium: Interstellar Probe Habitability: Stellar Imager Already In Develop- ment or Formulation Explorer Partnership Recommended Solar Processes: Solar Orbiter Geospace System Impacts: GEC, GEMINI, MagCon Climate Impacts: L1 Earth-Sun, SECEP Mars Atmosphere: Mars Atmospheric Reconnaissance Satellite Space Weather Stations: Heliostorm Solar System Space Weather: SEPM, SWBuoys Planetary Orbiters: Pluto/Kuiper, JPO/JUNO Future Mission Recommendations Sun-Solar System Mission Recommendations 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 Flagship missions and partnerships: Recommendation: Obtain additional resources and work with partners to implement these missions Partnership In Development New Initiative In Development Recommended Partnership

Sun-Solar System Mission Recommendations Current Constrained Budget Lines Optimized program will require more resources … Flagship missions and partnerships: Recommendation: Obtain additional resources and work with partners to implement these missions New Initiative In Development Recommended Partnership

Sun-Solar System Connection Summary