The latest Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics has been released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report outlines top priorities for space agencies and affiliated institutions in understanding the solar system over the next decade.
The survey draws on 450 papers from the science community and other events, including presentations and town halls. It builds on previous surveys that focused on finding Earth-like exoplanets, understanding the universe’s densest objects, and improving galaxy formation studies.
This year’s report covers a wide range of solar and space physics topics, including tracking dynamic solar system environments and studying the Sun at its poles. The report calls for NASA to launch a constellation of satellites to observe the space environment near Earth and a spacecraft to image the Sun at its poles.
The survey identifies several high-priority projects, including the National Science Foundation’s Next Generation Global Oscillations Network, a solar observatory network. Committee co-chair Stephen Fuselier warned that lack of progress in solar and space physics could have devastating consequences for society, citing the importance of predicting and mitigating against potentially harmful space weather impacts.
The report emphasizes the need for modest additional investments from governments to pursue substantive progress in these areas. Robyn Millan, co-chair of the committee that wrote the report, highlighted the opportunity to pursue exciting science and improve our understanding of space weather. The survey provides a framework for future missions and funding, giving the public something to get excited about as we continue to explore our solar system and beyond.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-next-decade-in-astrophysics-could-reveal-our-solar-systems-biggest-secrets-2000534769