Earth-Affecting Solar Causes Observatory (EASCO): a mission at the Sun-Earth L5

Nat Gopalswamy; Joseph M. Davila; Frédéric Auchère; Jesper Schou; Clarence M. Korendyke; Albert Shih; Janet C. Johnston; Robert J. MacDowall; Milan Maksimovic; Edward Sittler; Adam Szabo; Richard Wesenberg; Suzanne Vennerstrom; Bernd Heber

doi:10.1117/12.901538

6 October 2011 Earth-Affecting Solar Causes Observatory (EASCO): a mission at the Sun-Earth L5

Nat Gopalswamy, Joseph M. Davila, Frédéric Auchère, Jesper Schou, Clarence M. Korendyke, Albert Shih, Janet C. Johnston, Robert J. MacDowall, Milan Maksimovic, Edward Sittler, Adam Szabo, Richard Wesenberg, Suzanne Vennerstrom, Bernd Heber

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8148, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation IV; 81480Z (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901538
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs) as well as their source regions are important because of their space weather consequences. The current understanding of CMEs primarily comes from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) missions, but these missions lacked some key measurements: STEREO did not have a magnetograph; SOHO did not have in-situ magnetometer. SOHO and other imagers such as the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) located on the Sun-Earth line are also not well-suited to measure Earth-directed CMEs. The Earth-Affecting Solar Causes Observatory (EASCO) is a proposed mission to be located at the Sun-Earth L5 that overcomes these deficiencies. The mission concept was recently studied at the Mission Design Laboratory (MDL), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, to see how the mission can be implemented. The study found that the scientific payload (seven remote-sensing and three in-situ instruments) can be readily accommodated and can be launched using an intermediate size vehicle; a hybrid propulsion system consisting of a Xenon ion thruster and hydrazine has been found to be adequate to place the payload at L5. Following a 2-year transfer time, a 4-year operation is considered around the next solar maximum in 2025.

Citation Download Citation

Nat Gopalswamy, Joseph M. Davila, Frédéric Auchère, Jesper Schou, Clarence M. Korendyke, Albert Shih, Janet C. Johnston, Robert J. MacDowall, Milan Maksimovic, Edward Sittler, Adam Szabo, Richard Wesenberg, Suzanne Vennerstrom, and Bernd Heber "Earth-Affecting Solar Causes Observatory (EASCO): a mission at the Sun-Earth L5", Proc. SPIE 8148, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation IV, 81480Z (6 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901538

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available