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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991
Assessment of Programs in
Solar and Space Physics
1991
NOTICE
MEMBERSHIP
FOREWORD
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
Committee on Solar and Space Physics
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Space Studies Board
ABBREVIATIONS AND
ACRONYMS Commission on Physical Sciences,
APPENDIX A
Mathematics, and Applications
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources
National Research Council
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991
NOTICE
MEMBERSHIP
FOREWORD
SUMMARY
1. INTRODUCTION
2. STATUS OF THE DISCIPLINE
Discipline-Specific Issues
Solar Physics
Heliospheric Physics
Cosmic Ray Physics
Middle- and Upper-Atmosphere Physics
Solar-Terrestrial Coupling
Comparative Planetary Studies
Common Issues
Program Management
Data Archiving and Access
Explorer Program
Coordinated Programs and Synoptic Observations
Research and Analysis
Education
3. CONCLUSIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
APPENDIXES
A. Guidelines for Assessment Reports for Standing Committees of the
Space Studies Board
B. Audience for CSSP and CSTR Advice
C. Membership Lists, CSSP/CSTR Parent Organizations
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS, 1991
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Notice)
Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics
1991
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the
Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn
from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of
Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee
responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with
regard for appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors
according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of
members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of
Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-
perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and
engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology
and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted
to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to
advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank
Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
REPORT MENU
NOTICE
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the
MEMBERSHIP
charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of
FOREWORD
outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection
SUMMARY
of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility
CHAPTER 1
for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also
CHAPTER 2
sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages
CHAPTER 3
education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
ABBREVIATIONS AND
ACRONYMS
APPENDIX A
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National
APPENDIX B
Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate
APPENDIX C
professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the
public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy
of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal
government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care,
research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of
Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Notice)
of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology
with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal
government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the
Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in
providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and
engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies
and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are
chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.
Support for the Space Studies Board was provided through Contract
NASW-4102 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Support for the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate is provided
via the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of
Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Climate Program Office
under Grant Number NA87-AA-D-CP014; and by NASA under Grant Number
NAGW-2242.
Copies of this report are available from
Space Studies Board
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20418
Printed in the United States of America
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Membership)
Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics
1991
Membership
COMMITTEE ON SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS
COMMITTEE ON SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL RESEARCH*
Marcia Neugebauer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Co-Chair
Donald J. Williams, The Johns Hopkins University, Co-Chair
Thomas Cravens, University of Kansas
Alan C. Cummings, California Institute of Technology
Gordon Emslie, University of Alabama
John Foster, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
David C. Fritts, University of Alaska
Rolando R. Garcia, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Margaret G. Kivelson, University of California at Los Angeles
Martin A. Lee, University of New Hampshire
Richard A. Mewaldt, California Institute of Technology
REPORT MENU
Eugene N. Parker, University of Chicago
NOTICE
Peter J. Palmadesso, Naval Research Laboratory
MEMBERSHIP
Douglas M. Rabin, National Optical Astronomy Observatory
FOREWORD
David M. Rust, The Johns Hopkins University
SUMMARY
Raymond J. Walker, University of California at Los Angeles
CHAPTER 1
Yuk L. Yung, California Institute of Technology
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
Murray Dryer, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Ex-
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Officio
ABBREVIATIONS AND
ACRONYMS
APPENDIX A
Staff
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
Richard C. Hart, Executive Secretary, CSSP
Donald Hunt, Executive Secretary, CSTR
Carmela J. Chamberlain, Administrative Secretary
_________________
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Membership)
*The Committee on Solar and Space Physics is a committee of the Space
Studies Board of the Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and
Applications. The Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research is a committee of the
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate of the Commission on
Geosciences, Environment, and Resources. The members of the parent
organizations are listed in Appendix C.
Last update 12/13/00 at 10:48 am
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Foreword)
Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics
1991
Foreword
This report is one in a series written by the standing discipline committees
of the Space Studies Board. The purpose of this new series is to assess the
status of our nation's space science and applications research programs and to
review the responses of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and
other relevant federal agencies to the Board's past recommendations.
It is important, periodically, to take stock of where research disciplines
stand. As an advisory body to government, the Space Studies Board should
regularly examine the advice it has provided in order to determine its relevance
and effectiveness. As a representative of the community of individuals actively
engaged in space research and its many applications, the Board has an abiding
interest in evaluating the nation's accomplishments and setbacks in space.
In some cases, recurring budget problems and unexpected hardware
REPORT MENU
failures have delayed or otherwise hindered the attainment of recommended
NOTICE
objectives. In other cases, space scientists and engineers have achieved
MEMBERSHIP
outstanding discoveries and new understandings of the Earth, the solar system,
FOREWORD
and the universe. Although the recent past has seen substantial progress in the
SUMMARY
nation's civil space program, much remains to be done.
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3 These reports cover the areas of earth science and applications, solar
BIBLIOGRAPHY
system exploration (and the origins of life), solar and space physics, and space
ABBREVIATIONS AND
biology and medicine. Where appropriate, these reports also include the status of
ACRONYMS
data management recommendations set forth in the reports of the Space Studies
APPENDIX A
Board's former Committee on Data Management and Computation. The Board
APPENDIX B
has chosen not to assess two major space research disciplines—astronomy and
APPENDIX C
astrophysics, and microgravity research—at this time. Astronomy and
astrophysics was recently surveyed in a report under the aegis of the Board on
Physics and astronomy, The Decade of Discovery in Astronomy and
Astrophysics (National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1991); the Space
Studies Board is currently developing a strategy for the new area of microgravity
research.
On completion of the four reports, the Board will summarize the contents
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Foreword)
of each volume and produce an overview. The Space Studies Board expects to
repeat this assessment process approximately every three years, not only for the
general benefit of our nation's space research program, but also to assist the
Board in determining the need for updating or revising its research strategies and
recommendations.
Louis J. Lanzerotti
Chairman, Space Studies Board
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics
1991
Summary
INTRODUCTION
The Committee on Solar and Space Physics (CSSP) and the Committee
on Solar Terrestrial Research (CSTR) are both responsible for providing scientific
advice to U.S. government agencies in the overlapping fields of solar physics,
space physics, and solar-terrestrial relationships. The CSSP is a subcommittee of
and reports to the Space Studies Board (SSB); the CSTR has a similar
relationship to the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC). CSSP
and CSTR now function as a single, federated committee reporting to both the
SSB and BASC. This assessment report has been written in response to a
request by the SSB for an assessment of the way in which prior
recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC) are being
implemented by the appropriate federal agencies (See Appendix A). The
federated committee has expanded the scope of the study beyond that requested
REPORT MENU
by the SSB to include an assessment of responses to NRC reports in solar-
NOTICE
terrestrial research that are beyond the space-oriented scope of the SSB. This
MEMBERSHIP
report was reviewed and approved by the SSB.
FOREWORD
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3 STATUS OF DISCIPLINE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABBREVIATIONS AND
The scientific purview of the CSSP and CSTR covers the disciplines of
ACRONYMS
solar physics, heliospheric physics, cosmic ray physics, magnetospheric physics,
APPENDIX A
middle- and upper-atmosphere physics, solar-terrestrial coupling, and
APPENDIX B
comparative planetary studies. The assessment has two major sections:
APPENDIX C
discipline-specific issues and common issues.
Discipline-Specific Issues
Solar Physics
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
Good progress has been made in studies of solar irradiance variations,
high-energy emissions, and solar magnetism, resulting in part from the Solar
Maximum Mission (SMM) and the development of ground-based Stokes
polarimeters. Fundamental studies of helioseismology and solar neutrinos are
slowly progressing. The principal problem areas are the lack of prospects for
space observations of the highest-energy solar phenomena during both the
current and the next solar maximum, multiyear gaps in solar irradiance
measurements, lack of a funded plan for U.S. participation in the Large Earth-
Based Solar Telescope, (LEST), and most critically, the extraordinarily long delay
in achieving a new start for the Orbiting Solar Laboratory (OSL). Because of the
breadth and importance of its scientific goals, OSL remains the top-priority
candidate for a new mission start.
Heliospheric Physics
Extremely valuable data on the properties of the outer heliosphere
continue to be received from the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft. With the
successful launch of Ulysses, the fist in situ measurements of the three-
dimensional structure of the heliosphere will be obtained in 1993-1995. Both
Ulysses and Wind (to be launched in 1993) are expected to allow great advances
in our knowledge of the abundance and charge state of solar wind ions. Problem
areas are the lack of advanced development of technology required for future
missions and the decline in support for ground-based radio observations of the
solar corona and solar wind.
Cosmic Ray Physics
Data returned by the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft launched, in the
1970s, gave valuable new insights into the modulation of galactic cosmic rays,
the nature of anomalous cosmic rays, and the variable abundances of solar
energetic particles. Although several other missions and experiments responsive
to NRC recommendations were started, many of them were subsequently
canceled or postponed indefinitely; others have been stretched out over more
than a decade. The augmentation of the Explorer Program has led to the
selection of two new cosmic ray missions-the Solar, Anomalous, and
Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) and the Advanced Composition
Explorer (ACE).
Magnetospheric Physics
During the 1980s, a number of advances occurred that increased our
understanding of magnetospheric physics, including definitive observations that
the ionosphere is a major source of magnetospheric particles, initial
measurements of the composition and charge state of the ring current, the
discovery of plasmoids traveling at high velocity away from the Earth, and the
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
development of new models of the Earth's magnetopause, bow shock, and
foreshock regions. The key magnetospheric project, the International Solar-
Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) program, has been subject to delays and descoping
actions. Deletion of the Equator spacecraft eliminated crucial measurements of
the equatorial magnetosphere. NASA is currently trying to develop other ways to
obtain those key measurements. The several ISTP elements may, however, be
spread out in time to the extent that there will be little of the simultaneity of
measurements so vital to accomplishing the ISTP objectives. Although the
mission of the recently launched Combined Release and Radiation Effects
Satellite (CRRES) is td perform some active magnetospheric experiments, much
of the active experiment program has been lost as a major element of
magnetospheric research because of budget cuts and delays.
Middle- and Upper-Atmosphere Physics
There has been much progress in implementing NRC recommendations
in this discipline; the Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP), the Coupling
Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) program, and a
series of satellite observations gave a major boost to studies of chemical,
dynamical, radiation, and coupling processes. Recent studies of the polar ozone
depletion are especially noteworthy, but the ',combination of long delays, such as
in Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS); the lack of a vigorous research
program on the effects of solar activity on the middle atmosphere; and some
gaps in addressing the global electric circuit problem, has reduced expected
progress in some important areas.
Solar-Terrestrial Coupling
Progress in solar-terrestrial coupling has been closely related to results in
the areas of magnetospheric and atmospheric physics. Those results, mostly tied
to programs defined in the 1970s and conducted in the 1980s, have improved our
understanding of the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions and
resulting dynamics. The programmatic delays from planning to implementation
have meant that most of the solar-terrestrial recommendations made through the
1980s will not be acted on until the 1990s. Illustrative of programs that are
expected to provide major advances in this area are the ISTP, CEDAR, and
Geospace Environmental Modeling (GEM) programs.
Comparative Planetary Studies
Observations of planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres continue to
be an important element of solar system exploration. The Voyager flybys of
Uranus and Neptune added two new planets to the list of objects available for
comparative studies of planetary magnetospheres and magnetosphere-
ionosphere-atmosphere interactions. But again, major delays (e.g., in the Galileo
and CRAF/Cassini missions) and the absence of a U.S. mission to comet Halley
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
have significantly slowed the implementation of recommendations in this area.
Common Issues
Program Management
The recommended establishment oaf a separate Space Physics Division
within NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) has been
successfully implemented. The recommended reorganization of the solar physics
program within NSF is still under consideration. The recommended interagency
coordination council for solar terrestrial research was formed, but has not been
active since 1987. International coordination has been excellent.
Data Archiving and Access
The recommended solar-terrestrial Central Data Catalog and Data
Access Network have not been implemented. Although there have been some
initial developments in this area, progress has been painfully slow. A great deal
needs to be done before the NRC recommendations are met.
Explorer Program
The recommendations of an augmentation of the Explorer program and
the institution of a two-stage selection process have both been implemented, as
has the recommendation for a return to a concept of small, simple missions. The
recommended level of an average of one Explorer per year for solar and space
physics has not been reached, however, because cost overruns in the current
Explorer program continue to cause delays.
Coordinated Programs and Synoptic Observations
Several initiatives have responded to recommendations for coordinated
programs. Examples include ISTP and CEDAR. To date, there is no national
program or policy supporting recommendations for synoptic observations of the
fundamental parameters of the solar-terrestrial system. One exception was
NASA's successful effort to increase the data return from the IMP-8 spacecraft.
Research and Analysis
Even though support and augmentation of the research base have been
recommended by virtually every report, the base appears to have eroded. In
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
addition to this major concern, agency responses to other specific
recommendations in this area include the following:
1. Theory and modeling. NASA's Space Physics Theory Program
(previously called the Solar-Terrestrial Theory Program) has been very
successful, but there is concern about the steady erosion of average grant sizes
in real-year dollars.
2. Supercomputing. Recommendations for access to supercomputers
for solar-terrestrial research have largely been met. The limiting factor for many
scientists is now the lack of the small, inexpensive workstations required to
communicate with the supercomputers and to analyze and display their output.
3. Suborbital and Spartan programs. After some floundering during the
mid-1980s, NASA's balloon program is currently fairly healthy, with the major
problem being limited funding for instrument development. The rocket program
has declined because funding has not kept up with inflation, active experiments
were removed from the program, and funds were diverted to development of the
Spartan program (a diversion with which the NRC concurred). The Spartan
program effectively ended with the Challenger accident and, in retrospect, the
resources expended for the Spartan program adversely affected the rocket-type
science program it was meant to help.
Education
To date, only a few programs have set aside specific funds to support
educational components of their activities. The CEDAR program has shown
notable success in this area.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, there has been considerable scientific progress during the
past decade, with the bulk of the advances stemming from programs started in
the 1970s, prior to the NRC recommendations considered in this report. Progress
on the NRC recommendations of the 1980s has been generally slow, however,
and in some cases nonexistent. Cancellations, long delays, and major
programmatic restructuring have been routine. The perception is that initial
responses have been positive but that actions in the implementation phases have
not been carried through to achieve the goals embodied in the recommendations.
Because of these cancellations, delays, and stretch outs, the scientific
goals and most of the specific recommendations for each of the subdisciplines
remain valid. There is presently no need for a new set of scientific goals and
priorities. The most recent NRC report that set out an implementation plan for
solar and space physics was written in 1985. Although parts of that report are
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Assessment of Programs in Solar and Space Physics 1991 (Summary)
now obsolete, the CSSP/CSTR plans to review NASA's Strategic Plan currently
under development rather than to develop an implementation strategy of its own
at the present time. The federated committee also plans to further examine
issues in the agencies' research and analysis programs.
Last update 12/13/00 at 11:20 am
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