NASA Assigns "Living With A Star Missions" To APL

SOLAR SCIENCE

wihtout the sun we don't live

Washington - Jan 24, 2003
NASA has authorized the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, Md., to proceed with the implementation of the Geospace missions under NASA's existing "Living with a Star" contract with APL. The Living with a Star (LWS) program seeks to address how the variability in the sun affects life on Earth as well as its affect on space weather.

LWS sets out to quantify the physics, dynamics and behavior of the Sun-Earth system over the 11-year solar cycle and improve understanding of solar variability and disturbances on terrestrial climate change.

It will also provide data and scientific understanding aimed at developing a predictive capability for space weather affects. In addition, LWS will give scientists a detailed characterization of radiation environments useful in the design of more reliable electronic components for air and space transportation systems.

The two missions assigned to the APL make-up the LWS Geospace Project. These missions were recently identified in a study completed by the Geospace Mission Definition Team, a group tasked by NASA Headquarters to identify LWS Geospace Project goals and priorities. The two missions are the Ionosphere-Thermosphere Mapper Mission (ITM) and the Radiation Belt Mapper Mission (RBM).

The first of these, the ITM mission, will investigate the physical processes that modify and change the Earth's thin outer atmosphere, the region where the planet meets space.

The ITM will make measurements of the composition and physical properties of the upper atmosphere between 53-620 miles altitude. Understanding this region of space above Earth, and the sun's effects, will help us with the operation of the International Space Station that operates in this region. It is also a region that modifies the signals of navigation satellites, such as the Global Positioning System.

The Radiation Belt Mission will use two spacecraft in a near equatorial elliptical orbit to take measurements in the space above the ionosphere where the Earth's magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the sun.

The interaction of these fields of wind provides an energy source for the Earth's magnetosphere and drives a part of the observed variation of the Earth's magnetic field.

It is in this region the processes of interaction of the fields of the Earth and sun trap and energizes ions and electrons in radiation belts. The dynamic changes of this region can have important effects on civil and military communications satellite systems.

The ITM and RBM are planned for launch in 2008 and 2010 respectively. The timing is such that the solar magnetic activity cycle, operating with an 11-year period, will be at or near a maximum during these missions. The program is designed to use information at the extreme of this cycle to lead to major advances in our understanding and ability to predict space weather.

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. is responsible for implementation of the Geospace Project. Implementation includes the design and development of the two spacecraft.

LWS is part of the Sun-Earth Connection theme within the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

SPACE SCIENCE

NASA Taps Hopkins' Applied Physics Lab To Develop Solar Missions

Greenbelt - June 28, 2001
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, has awarded a contract to Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, for assigned research, design, development, mission operations and related technology development as part of the agency's Sun-Earth Connection, Living With a Star (LWS) and Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) programs.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.