WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2022/PRNewswire/ – NASA has chosen two science missions, the Multi-slit Solar Explorer, (MUSE), and HelioSwarm, to improve our understanding of the Sun’s dynamics, the Sun-Earth link, and the constantly changing environment in space. These missions will provide greater insight into the universe and critical information to protect satellites and astronauts as well as communications signals like GPS.
“MUSE, HelioSwarm will provide new insights into the solar atmosphere and weather in space,” said Dr. Judith A. Smith. Thomas ZurbuchenNASA Headquarters associate administrator for science, Judith. Washington. These missions not just extend the science of other heliophysics missions, but also provide a unique perspective on understanding the mysteries of our star.
MUSE
Scientists will be able to understand the mechanisms that heat the Sun’s corona, and the eruptions that occur in the outermost region of space weather. The mission will provide deeper insight into the physics and chemistry of the solar atmosphere. It will use a powerful instrument called a multi-slit spectrumrometer to observe the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation and capture the highest resolution images of the Sun. solar transition regionThe corona.
The mission will also provide complementary observations to heliophysics research such the Extreme UltraViolet Spectroscopic TelescopeGround-based observatories.
“MUSE will help fill critical gaps in knowledge pertaining Sun-Earth connection,” said Nicola FoxDirector of NASA Headquarters’ Heliophysics Division. It will provide more information about space weather and complement a host of missions within the heliophysics fleet.
MUSE’s primary purpose is to investigate the causes and consequences of coronal heating, instability, and flares. Coronal mass ejectionsLearn about the basic plasma properties in the corona. MUSE will capture high-resolution images showing the evolution of solar flares ribbons in a wide field of view that focuses on an active region of the Sun.
Bart DePontieu (LMATC), of Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, is the principal investigator for the MUSE Mission. Palo Alto, California. This mission has a budget. $192 million. LMATC will manage your project.
HelioSwarm
The HelioSwarm mission, a constellation of nine spacecraft, will capture the first in-space multiscale measurements of fluctuations and motions in the solar wind. This is known as solar wind Turbulence. The heliosphere, the Sun’s outermost atmosphere layer, covers a vast area of the solar system. The heliosphere is home to solar winds that travel through it. Their interactions with the planet magnetospheres and disruptions like coronal mass ejections can affect their turbulence.
Plasma measurements must be taken simultaneously from several points in space to study the effects of solar wind on large areas. HelioSwarm is composed of one hub spacecraft, eight small satellites orbiting in co-orbit and are separated by the hub spacecraft. Each small satellite will be in radio contact with the hub spacecraft. All radio contact between Earth and the swarm will be made via the hub spacecraft and NASA Deep Space Network communication antennas.
“The technical innovation of HelioSwarm’s small satellites operating as a constellation gives the unique ability to study turbulence evolution in the solar wind,” stated the author. Peg LuceDeputy Director of the Heliophysics Department.
The principal investigator for the HelioSwarm mission was Harlan SpenceFrom the University of New Hampshire. The budget for the mission is $250 million. NASA’s Ames Research Center will manage the project.
These missions are funded and managed by the Heliophysics Explorers Program, which is managed by NASA’s Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Greenbelt, Maryland.
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SOURCE NASA
