Space weather

ASTRA Program Supports a More Resilient U.S. Power Grid

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Space science, Electric power distribution, Academic disciplines, Board games, Planetary science, Solar System, Space medicine, Space weather, Electrical grid, Astra, Chess, Grid

Not widely known by the public, space weather poses a significant threat to electrical grid health.

Key Points: 
  • Not widely known by the public, space weather poses a significant threat to electrical grid health.
  • "The CHESS program is designed to change how we monitor, protect, and make decisions about the power grid we rely on in our daily lives," says Bill Baker, ASTRA Senior Vice President of Data Solutions.
  • CHESS provides expertise, tools, and information from the space weather, geoscience, power utility, and data science communities to support decisions related to space-weather threats to the nation's power grid.
  • About ASTRA: Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA) was born from the vision to apply fundamental space physics knowledge to real-world problems.

NASA Awards NOAA's Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS)

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Space science, Astronomy, Outer space, Solar phenomena, Space plasmas, Plasma physics, Sun, Wind, LAGRANGE, Goddard Space Flight Center, Coronal mass ejection, Space weather

GREENBELT, Md., July 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) contract to South West Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas.

Key Points: 
  • GREENBELT, Md., July 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) contract to South West Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas.
  • The principal purpose of this requirement within the Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) Project is to design, analyze, develop, fabricate, integrate, test, calibrate, evaluate, and support launch and on-orbit check-out of the Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) instrument as part of the SWFO-L1 Observatory.
  • SWFO-L1 will provide NOAA with the continuity of solar wind data and coronal mass ejection imagery, the National Weather Service's highest priority for space weather observations.
  • NASA is the program's flight system procurement agent, and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the lead for this acquisition.

Xplore awarded mission analysis by NOAA to study Lagrange point solar observation and space weather monitoring to protect critical infrastructure on Earth

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Space science, Outer space, Applied sciences, Planetary defense, Lagrangian point, LAGRANGE, Space weather, Xplore, Near-Earth object

Xplore Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Rich said, "We are pleased to announce NOAA has awarded Xplore a study to evaluate the feasibility of a commercial Lagrange point mission with our Xcraft spacecraft.

Key Points: 
  • Xplore Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Rich said, "We are pleased to announce NOAA has awarded Xplore a study to evaluate the feasibility of a commercial Lagrange point mission with our Xcraft spacecraft.
  • Xplore's multi-mission ESPA-class space vehicle, the Xcraft is designed for missions beyond Earth orbit that include the Moon, Mars, Venus, near-Earth asteroids and Lagrange points, the focus of Xplore's NOAA mission study.
  • Xplore intends to provide a pathway to commercial space weather and solar observatory solutions for NOAA with the Xplore L1 mission study.
  • Xplore's commercial solar observatory will enable improved knowledge, forecasting and warnings to better protect the Nation's critical infrastructure and economy."

NASA Awards NOAA's Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 Magnetometer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Space science, Meteorology, Outer space, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, LAGRANGE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Space weather

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded the Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Magnetometer contract to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) based in San Antonio, Texas.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded the Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Magnetometer contract to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) based in San Antonio, Texas.
  • The SWFO-L1 satellite, which is planned to launch in 2024 as a rideshare on the NASA IMAP, will collect upstream solar wind data and coronal imagery to support NOAA's mission to monitor and forecast space weather events.
  • NOAA is responsible for the Space Weather Follow-On program.
  • NASA is the program's flight system procurement agent, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the lead for acquisition.

SRI International’s CMOS Imager aboard the Parker Solar Probe Mission Selected as an Edison Award Finalist

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 2, 2020
Space science, Outer space, Solar telescopes, WISPR, Local Interstellar Cloud, Parker Solar Probe, Space weather, Solar probe, Edison

MENLO PARK, CA, March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRI International today announced that they were recognized as an Edison Award finalist in the Aerospace Innovation category for their contributions to NASAs Solar Probe Plus Mission.

Key Points: 
  • MENLO PARK, CA, March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRI International today announced that they were recognized as an Edison Award finalist in the Aerospace Innovation category for their contributions to NASAs Solar Probe Plus Mission.
  • Each year, the Edison Award acknowledges companies with exemplary performance and innovation in the rapidly evolving market of Aerospace Flight Technology.
  • SRI International's technological contribution to the Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe Plus (WISPR) for NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission assists scientists in assessing and forecasting space weather events that cause dramatic effects on communications, power and other essential technologies.
  • The CMOS Imager used in the Parker Solar Probe was designed by Jim Janesick of SRI, a leading expert in CCD and CMOS development.

NASA Spacecraft Launches on Mission to Explore Frontier of Space

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 11, 2019
Space science, Outer space, Applied sciences, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, Space weather, NASA, Heliophysics, Nicola Fox, Explorers program, Spaceflight, Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe

In addition to interfering with communications signals, space weather in the ionosphere can also prematurely decay spacecraft orbits and expose astronauts to radiation-borne health risks.

Key Points: 
  • In addition to interfering with communications signals, space weather in the ionosphere can also prematurely decay spacecraft orbits and expose astronauts to radiation-borne health risks.
  • "ICON has an important job to do to help us understand the dynamic space environment near our home," said Nicola Fox, director for heliophysics at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
  • NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorer Program for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
  • The Mission Operations Center at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory is tasked with operating the ICON mission.

NASA to Broadcast Launch of Mission to Study the Frontier of Space

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Space science, Contents, Outer space, Planetary science, Solar System, Space medicine, Space weather, Satellite, Ionosphere, NASA

Coverage of the prelaunch briefing and launch will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website .

Key Points: 
  • Coverage of the prelaunch briefing and launch will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website .
  • Participants will include:
    The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed, but more information about media accreditation is available by emailing [email protected] .
  • ICON will study the frontier of space the dynamic zone high in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above.
  • The ionosphere can be a source of great beauty, but also can be disruptive to radio communications and satellites, and astronaut health.

Themis Raises EUR 40 Million in Series D Financing Round Backed by US/EU Consortium to Support Pivotal Study and Expand Clinical Pipeline

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Research, Health, Clinical trials, Spacecraft, Space weather, THEMIS, THEMIS, the New Investors, Themis

Themis announced today the closing of a Series D financing round totaling EUR 40 million (USD 44 million).

Key Points: 
  • Themis announced today the closing of a Series D financing round totaling EUR 40 million (USD 44 million).
  • Concurrent with the financing, Dr. Walter Stockinger, Managing Partner at Hadean Ventures, will join Themis Supervisory Board.
  • I would like to thank our current investors for their continued support and also welcome Walter to our Board.
  • The vaccine candidate, MV-CHIK, is Phase 3-ready with the pivotal global Phase 3 trial initiation expected in the next few months.

NASA Selects Proposals to Advance Understanding of Space Weather

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Space science, Contents, Outer space, Federal government of the United States, NASA, Space weather, International Space Station

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NASA has selected three proposals for concept studies of missions that could help us better understand the dynamic space weather system driven by the Sun that manifests near Earth.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NASA has selected three proposals for concept studies of missions that could help us better understand the dynamic space weather system driven by the Sun that manifests near Earth.
  • "Each of these proposals could add a significant tool from a unique vantage point to help us understand that system."
  • Understanding how the neutral atmosphere affects the ions and vice versa is key to better understanding the complex space weather system surrounding our planet, which affects spacecraft and astronauts flying through it.
  • For information about NASA and space science, visit:
    View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-selects-proposals-to-advanc...

Highlights - Petition on the definition of an EU strategy on space weather and EMP: 4.09.2019 - Committee on Petitions

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 26, 2019
Space science, Academic disciplines, Applied sciences, Plasma physics, Space plasmas, Planetary science, Space medicine, Space weather, Solar flare, European Union

Members will debate a petition seeking the definition of an EU strategy on space weather and electromagnetic pulses.

Key Points: 
  • Members will debate a petition seeking the definition of an EU strategy on space weather and electromagnetic pulses.
  • The objective of this strategy would be to prevent the consequences of extreme space weather events known as solar flares, especially when dealing with electric and electronic infrastructures.
  • Members will discuss possibilities to mitigate the effects of space weather events and protect EU citizens and EU ground and space infrastructure.