HESTO Project Portfolio
HESTO is proud to present its technology projects portfolio (2018-present). For more information about a specific project or technology, contact hesto@mail.nasa.gov.
HESTO Program Funding Elements and Disciplines Key
ITD: The HTIDS Instrument Technology Development program element supports instrument and technology development, with a goal of maturation and infusion into future flight missions to enable and advance Heliophysics science.
LNAPP: The HTIDS Laboratory Nuclear, Atomic, and Plasma Physics program element supports studies that probe fundamental nuclear, atomic, and plasma physical processes and produce chemical and spectrographic measurements that support spacecraft observations and atmospheric models.
HFOS: The Heliophysics Flight Opportunities Studies program element supports Heliophysics science mission concept studies at the pre-Phase A level.
Heliosphere: Investigations into the origins and behavior of the solar wind, energetic particles, and magnetic fields in the heliosphere, including their interactions with Earth, other planets, and the interstellar medium.
ITM: Investigations into the physics of Earth’s ionosphere, thermosphere, and mesosphere, including their coupling to the Earth’s lower atmosphere and to the magnetosphere.
Magnetosphere: Investigations into the physics of the magnetosphere, including the fundamental interactions of plasmas and particles with fields and waves and their coupling to the solar wind and ionosphere.
Solar Science: Investigations into the Sun, including the processes taking place throughout the solar interior and atmosphere, as well as the evolution and cyclic activity of the Sun.
2023
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0001 PI: Moldwin, Mark Institution: University of Michigan Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Hybrid AC/DC Magnetometer with Attitude Determination and Control System This project will develop an attitude control and determination system that can make research quality magnetic measurements from DC to 1 kHz by developing a new hybrid magnetometer and attitude control system. The system will enable boom-less magnetometry on science and commercial small satellites.   |
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0008 PI: Gall, Amy Institution: SAO Award: ITD-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Laboratory XUV Spectroscopy: Increasing the Scientific Return of Solar Missions The project will measure and identify lines from Fe VIII to Fe XXII ions by surveying the 50-200 Å XUV wavelength regime. These lines are important for advancing our understanding of the Sun and the solar corona. This project result in updates to atomic databases such as CHIANTI solar database.    |
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0016 PI: Vievering, Juliana Institution: JHU/APL Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Scanning Coronal and Heliospheric Imager (SCHI) This project will develop a new visible light telescope that provides high-resolution, wide field-of-view maps of the white light solar corona using novel achromatic hybrid metasurface Risley prisms (MRPs) to significantly reduce instrument size and complexity. |
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0023 PI: Barjatya, Aroh Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Award: ITD-SWE ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Development and Testing of a Multi-Needle Langmuir Probe for the Detection of Extremely Small Spatial Structures in Low Earth Orbit The project will develop an enhanced Langmuir probe (>= 80 KHz sample rate) to enable CubeSat constellations that can perform high spatial resolution and high-fidelity plasma-density measurements. These density measurements will address space weather science objectives but also detect and characterize micro-meteoroid orbital debris signatures.  |
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0024 PI: Maldonado, Carlos Institution: LLNL Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | A New HOPE for Ionospheric Outflow and Cold Magnetospheric Plasma Measurements This project will develop a new modified Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) ion mass spectrometer to obtain high energy resolution observations of low-energy (0.5 eV to 100 eV) ion populations in ionospheric outflows and cold magnetospheric space plasmas.  |
| Proposal ID: 23-HTIDS23-0025 PI: Eskin, Joshua Institution: Ball Aerospace Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Multi-detector Experiment for next-Generation Applications in Heliophysics (MEGA-H) This project will develop a 395-megapixel, multi-detector, camera system which uses an optical imaging system whose exit beam is split onto four individual detectors that can be located conveniently apart from each other enabling a gapless image.   |
| Proposal ID: 23-HFOS23-0003 PI: Zhao, Hong Institution: Auburn University Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Magntosphere | CubeSat: On the Radiation belt electron Acceleration (CORA) This project will study the CubeSat: On the Radiation belt electron Acceleration (CORA) mission whose goal is to understand relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron acceleration and quantify the effect of inward radial diffusion as an acceleration mechanism in the radiation belts to GEO using a novel method of probing electron flux oscillations.  |
2022
| Proposal ID: 22-HFOS22-0003 PI: Chartier, Alex Institution: Johns Hopkins University Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Satellite Auroral Plasma Sounders The mission will explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and to develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society. By targeting Sub-Auroral Polarization Streams (SAPS) and related plasma irregularities. It will determine how SAPS fit within broader system dynamics, how irregularities form within them, and how they affect radio signals. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HFOS22-0002 PI: Knapp, Mary Institution: MIT Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Space Weather Impact on Planetary Emissions (SWIPE) SWIPE will track the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and other solar wind disturbances on planetary magnetospheres. It will observe enhancements in planetary auroral radio emission caused by space weather events. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HFOS22-0007 PI: Shumko, Mykhaylo Institution: JHU/APL Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | The Loss Through Auroral Microburst Pulsations Satellite (LAMPsat) Flight Opportunity Study The LAMPsat CubeSat mission is the progression of the LAMP sounding rocket. Fundamentally, LAMPsat will advance our understanding of the pulsating aurora phenomenon, and its connection to relativistic electron microburst precipitation, by testing the theory that relativistic microburst pulsating aurora are two observational manifestations of the same mechanism. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0004 PI: Newmark, Jeffrey Institution: NASA GSFC Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Goddard Miniature Coronagraph Multi-point observations of CMEs and heliospheric structures are key to reducing the ambiguities inherent in observing an optically thin medium and can be possible using low-cost Smallsat platforms launched into various orbits off the Earth-Sun line and out of the ecliptic plane. The Goddard Miniature Coronagraph aims to support such platforms with a design that is low Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) and therefore extremely cost/resource effective by making use of an extendable boom external occulter. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0005 PI: de Nolfo, Georgia Institution: NASA GSFC Award: ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Solar Neutron TRACking Instrument (SONTRAC) Follow-on The measurement of solar neutrons provides a game-changing observation in a previously poorly measured radiation channel, leading to a better understanding of particle acceleration at the Sun. Neutrons also represent an important component of space weather, affecting both satellite operations and the health of astronauts and flight crews. SONTRAC will advance the current instrument development to provide a fully-integrated prototype that demonstrates suitability for SmallSAT opportunities. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HFOS22-0001 PI: Akhavan-Tafti, Mojtaba Institution: Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT) SWIFT will aim at making major discoveries on the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of heliospheric structures that drive space weather. The science is compelling because it aims to focus on interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) that originate from massive expulsions of plasma and magnetic flux from the solar corona. ICMEs cause the largest geomagnetic storms and solar energetic particle events, which can endanger life and disrupt technology on Earth and in space. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0019 PI: Li, Feiyu Institution: New Mexico Consortium Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Scaling Studies of Seeded Alfven Wave Parametric Decay Instability in the Laboratory Alfven waves are ubiquitous in magnetized plasmas throughout the heliosphere. The dissipation of large Alfvenic fluctuations originating from the Sun is key to many processes such as solar coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. Parametric decay instability (PDI) is a nonlinear dissipation process of large-amplitude Alfven waves, where a forward pump Alfven wave decays into a backward daughter Alfven wave and a forward ion acoustic wave. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0020 PI: McVey, John Institution: Aerospace Corp Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Space Debris Detection and Characterization using an in-situ LIDAR Sensor Platform The goal of this project is to mature an Aerospace LIDAR instrument and enable an inflight demonstration. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0023 PI: Lee, Justin Institution: Aerospace Corp Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Miniaturized Charging Mitigation Shell Instrument for Magnetospheric Cold Plasma Sensors The mission will improve the capability of next generation plasma instrumentation through the development of a miniaturized charging mitigation shell (CMS) instrument subsystem. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0007 PI: Mayyasi, Majd Institution: Boston University Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | HIRSL: a High-Resolution Spectrograph in Lyman-alpha A recent multi-year NASA study of an Interstellar Probe mission to the solar system and into the interstellar medium (ISM) resulted in a consensus for a set of baseline scientific instruments for the Probe mission. One of these instruments is a UV spectrograph to measure the velocity distribution of neutral hydrogen atoms both from the ISM and from charge exchange reactions with solar wind protons. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0018 PI: Clayton, Robert Institution: Embry-Riddle Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Development and Testing of a miniaturized Double Langmuir Probe for Small-Satellite Platforms The mission will design, simulate, prototype, and demonstrate the ability of a novel low size-weight-and-power (SWaP) double Langmuir probe to measure thermal electron temperature and high-rate density from small-satellite platforms. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0006 PI: Nicholas, Andrew Institution: NRL Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: System-Interdisciplnary | Lightsheet Anomaly Resolution And Debris Observation – Neuromorphic (LARSDO-N) LARSDO-N seeks to upgrade improve the LARADO system. The LARADO sensor is an on-orbit instrument designed to detect small debris that too small to be seen from the ground but have enough kinetic energy to do catastrophic damage to space assets. It will enhance detection capability, increase signal to noise and reduce science data bandwidth, and move to a dial-lightsheet configuration which will provide speed and direction characterization of the observed debris. Interdisciplinary |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0008 PI: Kalogerakis, Konstantinos Institution: SRI International Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Production Pathways of the OH Meinel Band Emission Required for TIMED/SABER Observations The HIRSL (a High-Resolution Spectrograph in Lyman-a) UV instrument will improve past/existing measurements of the interaction dynamics between the solar wind and interstellar medium at the heliospheric boundary. It will include a high dispersion capability to resolve atomic motions through their doppler shift in scattering the bright solar Lyman-a emission. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0013 PI: Martinovic, Mihailo Institution: Univ of Arizona, Tucson Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Measuring Plasma Parameters and Waves in the Ionosphere of Earth This project will redesign solar wind instrumentation for the ionospheric environment with a sensor that can be installed on a CubeSat. The proposed instrument Waves, Instabilities & Noise Spectrometer (WINS) will measure plasma parameters and waves as accurately as the well-established solar wind payloads. |
| Proposal ID: 22-HTIDS22-0014 PI: Malaspina, David Institution: Univ of Boulder, Colorado Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: System-Interdisciplnary | Debris and meteoroid ENvironment Sensor (DENTS): Instrument Technology Development The DENTS instrument technology will develop an innovative impact detection instrument. It will make the measurements required to close observational gaps for small debris in Low Earth Orbit. Interdisciplinary |
2021
| Proposal ID: 21-HFOS21-0001 PI: Li, Xinlin Institution: Univ CO-Boulder Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Dual Cluster Mission Concept Study This study will determine the number of spacecraft and their optimal orbits, optimum instrumentation, costs associated with implementation options for a mission to determine the characteristics of the precipitation of energetic electrons and quantify their total precipitation loss. It will also determine and quantify the physical processes responsible for the various types of precipitation, i.e., microbursts, precipitation bands, and drift-loss-cone. It will thus enable the quantification of the acceleration mechanisms of energetic electrons and also enable more accurate specification and forecasts of these electrons. |
| Proposal ID: 21-HFOS21-0002 PI: Filwett, Rachael Institution: Univ of Iowa Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | LabOratory for the Behavior of the SloT Region (LOBSTR) The LOBSTR objective is to understand the electron distributions on the inner edge of outer radiation belt, including slot region injection events, and to understand the proton distribution on the outer edge of the inner belt, due to trapping (and loss) of particles from solar energetic particle events. It will provide insight to the magnetic local time dependence of these events. |
| Proposal ID: 21-HTIDS-21-0010 PI: Beltran, Sam Tun Institution: NRL Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | An Imaging Polarimeter for Hydrogen Lyman-α By developing instrumentation for imaging polarimetry of the hydrogen Lyman-α transition, with applications to observations of Hanlé depolarization in the solar corona, photon polarization as a diagnostic of shock physics and particle acceleration in coronal mass ejection (CME) driven collisionless shock waves, and polarization resulting from the scattering of solar Lyman-α by the Earth’s hydrogen geocorona. |
| Proposal ID: 21-HTIDS-21-0004 PI: Zhang, Xiaojia Institution: UCLA Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | High-Frequency Magnetic Loop for Heliophysics Exploration This mission will develop a compact and lightweight magnetic field instrument for 3D radio burst exploration on small satellites, paving the way for a robust space weather surveillance system and creating a new experimental tool for planetary radio astronomy. |
| Proposal ID: 21-HTIDS-21-0002 PI: Lejosne, Solene Institution: CA Berkeley Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Development of Grotifer: a CubeSat for Three-Dimensional Electric Field Measurements Grotifer is a CubeSat that will provide accurate three-dimensional (3D) electric field (E-field) measurements in all environments of the heliosphere, while enabling lower cost missions and constellation missions in deep space. E-fields are a fundamental quantity of the universe that play a key role in Heliophysics research. |
| Proposal ID:21-HTIDS-21-0012 PI: Clemmons, James Institution: Univ of New Hamsphire Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Low-Resource Instrumentation for Scientific Measurements in Planetary Thermospheres By developing new instrumentation that will be capable of measuring winds in planetary atmospheres, the instruments measure the winds at the location of their host spacecraft. The objective is to miniaturize the previous instruments so that they can be hosted by small platforms, such as cubesats and other smallsats. |
| Proposal ID: 21-HTIDS-21-0003 PI: Egedal, Jan Institution: Univ of Wisconsin-Madison Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Exploring 3D Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in the Laboratory Magnetic reconnection plays a fundamental role in nearly all magnetized plasmas as it enables magnetic energy to be converted into high-speed flows and thermal energy. This project will characterize the 3D structure and dynamics of the electron diffusion region (EDR) for parameters relevant to space plasma. It will document the range of parameters, including plasma beta, density asymmetry and guide magnetic field, where the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) becomes active within the EDR. |
2020
| Proposal ID: 20-HFOS20-0001 PI: Cohen, Ian Institution: JHU-APL Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Uranus Orbiter Mission: Determining the Scope and Feasibility of a Dedicated Heliophysics Mission This study will investigate the feasibility and potential scope of a dedicated Heliophysics orbiter mission to study the complex and dynamic magnetosphere of Uranus as either an independent mission or a potential rideshares to complement a future Planetary Science mission. From the planet’s tilted and offset, rapidly rotating non-dipolar magnetic field to its seasonally extreme interactions with the solar wind to its unexpectedly intense electron radiation belts, the Uranian system hosts a range of outstanding and compelling mysteries of interest to Heliophysics. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HFOS20-0009 PI: Mlynczak, Martin Institution: LaRC Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Nitric Oxide Infrared Emissions Cubesat The mission will conduct science and engineering trade studies leading to the design of a Cubesat sentinel sensor, capable of accurately measuring the vertical profile of infrared limb emission from nitric oxide in the terrestrial thermosphere. This is motivated by the long-standing problem of accurately forecasting thermospheric density during geomagnetic storms. Forecasts of satellite and high value space asset positions require accurate density forecasts. Reliable density forecasts, prior to, during, and after geomagnetic storm events remain elusive as thermospheric density can increase or decrease rapidly during a storm event. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HFOS20-0002 PI: de Wijn, Alfred Institution: UCAR Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | The Solar Transition Region UltraViolet Explorer The STRUVE CubeSat mission will advance our understanding of the energy build-up and storage in the solar atmosphere, and its eventual release through flares and coronal mass ejections. STRUVE will allow us to determine the parameters of the magnetized plasma in the volume of the solar atmosphere from the photosphere through the chromosphere, and into the transition region at the base of the corona. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HFOS20-0011 PI: Frank, Wendy Institution: Univ CO-Boulder Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Plasmasphere Tomography (PlaTo) Mission Study The proposed work is a mission and trade study for a heliophysics mission consisting of a constellation of spacecraft that use radio tomography to investigate the density structure and evolution of the plasmasphere. Tomographic inversion can be performed to produce 2D maps of the plasma density which would be used to answer questions about the structure and evolution of the plasmasphere. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HFOS20-0008 PI: Maruca, Bennett Institution: Univ of Delaware Award: HFOS ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | A Large Constellation of Spacecraft for Mapping the 3D Magnetic Structure of the Solar Wind This mission would focus on providing 3D images which would directly show the topology and morphology of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and definitively distinguish among competing theories for the dynamics of solar-wind turbulence. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0020 PI: Amatucci, Bill Institution: NRL Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Development of a Novel Magnetic Nano-Transmitter Plasma Wave Antenna This collaborative research will provide data from a quantitative analysis of the Lower Hybrid Drift Waves (LHDW) and associated electron heating within or near the electron diffusion region (EDR) during magnetic reconnection with a guide field. The obtained results will be used to interpret space data in order to address one of key questions on wave-particle interaction during magnetic reconnection, which is one of the primary physical processes that determine the dynamical response of magnetospheric plasmas to the incoming solar wind. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0012 PI: Maldonado, Carlos Institution: Triad National Security, LLC Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | A Compact Ion Mass Spectrometer (CIMS) for Ionospheric Outflow and Cold Magnetospheric Plasma Measurements CIMS is a highly compact low-resource ion mass spectrometer capable of high-mass resolution for low-energy ionospheric and magnetospheric ions. The concept and operation enable ultrafast measurement of plasma ion composition to provide new understanding of the physical processes that drive the complex plasma dynamics in space. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0027 PI: Fish, Chad Institution: Orion Space Solutions (formerly known as Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates) Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Mass Spectrometry of the Turbopause Region (MSTR) The turbopause region remains one of the most poorly explored, yet crucial regions of the upper atmosphere. In the vicinity of this altitude, the atmosphere reaches its lowest temperature and the compositional structure changes from being governed by turbulent mixing processes to diffusive processes. Few measurement techniques work well at this altitude, and it is too low for satellites. Addressing the knowledge gap associated with this region requires making composition measurements aided by strong modeling efforts. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0034 PI: Zhao, Hong Institution: Auburn University Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | The miniaturized High-Energy-Resolution relativistic electronic Telescope (HERT)-Auburn Understanding the radiation environment at Earth is critical due to both scientific interests and practical needs. A miniaturized, High-Energy-Resolution relativistic electron Telescope (HERT) can be easily accommodated into future CubeSat/SmallSat missions to understand and quantify the effect of acceleration mechanism throughout the entire radiation belts to GEO using a novel method of probing electron flux oscillations. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0028 PI: Hosseini, Seyedeh Sona Institution: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | CLASS, a Compact Lyman-Alpha Spatial heterodyne Spectrometer The detection of suprathermal ions near the Sun will be a giant leap in our understanding of the role they play in particle acceleration by coronal mass ejection shocks. This project advances the development of a high étendue, ultra-miniature spectrometer module, to understand the creation of solar energetic particles (SEPs) in the solar corona and the physical processes that impact the variability in SEP output by observing the coronal H I Lyman-alpha spectral profile. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0009 PI Cohen, Ian: Institution: JHU/APL Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: System-Interdisciplnary | Plasma and Radiation Combined IN-situ Instrument (PRCINI) PRCINI will integrate the electrostatic analyzer (ESA) from the Cassini/Charge-Energy-Mass-Spectrometer (CHEMS) instrument into a modified version of the Parker Solar Probe/Energetic Particle Instrument (EPI)-Lo sensor, resulting in a combined suprathermal and energetic ion instrument that measures energy, angular distribution, and compositional distributions from ~1 keV to ≳15 MeV, as well as ion charge-state composition from ~15 (protons) to ~220 keV/q, over co-planar fields-of-view. Interdisciplinary |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0014 PI: de Nolfo, Georgia Institution: NASA GSFC Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Solar Neutron TRACking Instrument (SONTRAC) The measurement of solar neutrons provides a game-changing observation in a previously poorly measured radiation channel, leading to a better understanding of particle acceleration at the Sun. Neutrons also represent an important component of space weather, affecting both satellite operations and the health of astronauts and flight crews. SONTRAC will advance the current instrument development to provide a fully-integrated prototype that demonstrates suitability for SmallSAT opportunities. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0021 PI: Michell, Robert Institution: NASA GSFC Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Multi Look-Direction Magnetic Electron Spectrometer for Auroral Studies The main objective of this project is to build, test and calibrate a prototype of a magnetic electron spectrometer that will have 16 different look-directions with the capability of making measurements of electron spectra in each look direction with a cadence of 1 ms. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0002 PI:Casini, Roberto Institution: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | The Solar Imaging Metasurface Polarimeter (SIMPol) This imaging spectro-polarimeter capable of capturing 2D images of the Sun with full polarization information, over a narrow spectral band will enable spectro-polarimetric studies of solar magnetism. It will measure the full state of polarization over the entire region of interest with every camera frame, without the need for moving mechanisms. This project will advance the field of metasurfaces and apply these to the construction of a unique prototype instrument for solar studies. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0004 PI: Sewell, Scott Institution: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Advancement of a Lyot Filter Demonstration Instrument (LFDI) for Space-Borne Solar Physics Investigations Dynamic conditions in the solar atmosphere can lead to events such as filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections and to understand such events requires observations of dynamic phenomena. Spectroscopic imaging is a powerful tool which possess a large field of view for tracking dynamic activity while providing diagnostics such as line-of-sight velocities and line widths giving insight into turbulence and wave broadening. The LFDI will enable a variety of missions and science objectives in the heliophysics community. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0010 Bonnell, John PI: Bonnell, John Institution: University of California, Berkeley Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | LIEFSI – Laboratory Investigation of Electric Field Sensor Instabilities The quantitative study of space plasma electrodynamics requires the accurate measurement of in situ electric fields. In order to optimize the accuracy of the double probe method for both DC and AC field measurements a variety of sensor and antenna geometries and biasing schemes have been used on past and present missions. LIEFSI will significantly improve our practical knowledge of electric field sensor design, and to support the investigation of fundamental plasma processes that contribute to all aspects of space physics. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0031 PI: Mouikis, Christopher Institution: University of New Hampshire, Durham Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Increasing the Dynamic Range of Spaceflight Charged Particle Instruments Covering the dynamic range of the plasma ion fluxes over disparate regions of the heliosphere and over the full range of conditions, is a challenge. A hardware system for achieving a large dynamic range by a single ion instrument that can be used to address the determination of the coupling between the solar-wind interplanetary events and the magnetosphere – ionosphere system. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0015 PI: Harding, Leon Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Development of an EMCCD Space Camera for UV Spectroscopy: Probing Nitric Oxide in the Polar Night A novel ultraviolet (UV) instrument, compatible with a CubeSat spacecraft, that uses a delta-doped electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) Camera System designed to measure nighttime lower thermospheric nitric oxide. This instrument will determine the altitude profile of aurorally-induced nitric oxide and determine nitric oxide’s peak altitude concentration. |
| Proposal ID: 20-HTIDS-20-0017 PI: Yamada, Masaaki Institution: Princeton University Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Study of Coronal X-ray Jet formation Using Advanced Numerical Simulations and Laboratory Experiments This study will contribute to a better understanding of solar flare dynamics in a testable way in a controlled laboratory setting and help improve interpretation of data from NASA satellite missions by providing ground truth for the many theoretical/modeling groups working on simulations of the solar flare models. This research should importantly contribute to the better understanding of solar flare dynamics. |
| Proposal ID 20-HTIDS-20-0018: PI: Ji, Hantao Institution: Princeton University Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Lower Hybrid Drift Waves and Associated Electron Heating During Guide Field Reconnection This proposed research will systematically vary the strength of the guide field, current density and collisionality, and compare experimental results with predictions from a local, linear theoretical model and 3D nonlinear Particle-In-Cell simulations. The obtained results will be used to interpret space data in order to address one of key questions on wave-particle interaction during magnetic reconnection. |
2019
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0019 PI: Walsh, Brian Institution: Boston University Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | ACSEPT: A Compact Solar Energetic Particle Telescope The emission of the Sun at wavelengths from 3 to 100 um is a relatively unexplored region of the solar spectrum, but one that has raised some intriguing questions. A new class of high-cadence imaging detectors in this wavelength range has novel polarization and spectral properties that can address these questions and characterize the layer of the solar atmosphere that is sensitive to these wavelengths. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0030 PI: Hampton, Donald Institution: Geophysical Institute Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Development of the Alaska Cubesat Auroral Plasma Spectrometer (ACAPS) The ACAPS will design, build and perform beam testing and vibration testing on a prototype ESA mechanical model that meets specified performance and environmental requirements. It will demonstrate function of a non-distorting MCP sensitivity control for position sensitive counting instruments. It will design, build and perform beam testing and vibration testing on a prototype MCP detector and front end electronics for a 1D imaging system that meets specified requirements. ACAPS will integrate the ESA/Detector and perform end-to-end beam test to verify performance. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0027 PI: Yee, Sam Institution: HTIDS-ITD Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Development and Demonstration of an All Solid-State 4.7 THz Spectrometer Enabling Measurements of Thermospheric Winds, Temperature, and O Density Development of the 4 THz channel of the THz Limb Sounder (TLS) instrument will be demonstrated under this proposed Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science Program (H-TIDeS) investigation. It can, for the first time, measure neutral wind profiles globally during both day and night in an altitude region where most of the ion-neutral energy/momentum coupling takes place and the neutral atmosphere responds to external energy inputs. These measurements provide critical observational constraints to the complex dynamics in the coupled lower atmosphere/thermosphere/ionosphere/magnetosphere system. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0002 PI: Hurlburt, Neal Institution: Lockheed Martin Inc. Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | MICRO – A Magnetograph using Interfermetric and Computational Imaging for Remote Observations One of the top questions for NASA Heliophysics is: “What causes the Sun to vary?”. The solar magnetic field plays a fundamental role in this variation and hence its measurement, made with magnetographs, is essential. Traditional magnetographs are large optical systems with elaborate designs and exquisite engineering and are heavy and expensive — which place limits on their use in space. A novel magnetograph leverages advances in Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs) and low-noise lasers that are being developed by the evolving telecommunications industry. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0017 PI: Moore, Christopher Institution: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Technology Development of High Speed CMOS Detectors and Multilayer Mirrors for Dynamic Solar Soft X-ray Spectral Imaging Technology Development of High Speed CMOS Detectors and Multilayer Mirrors for Dynamic Solar Soft X-ray Spectral Imaging The emission of the Sun at wavelengths from 3 to 100 um is a relatively unexplored region of the solar spectrum, but one that has raised some intriguing questions. This new class of high-cadence imaging detectors in this wavelength range that has novel polarization and spectral properties can address these questions and characterize the layer of the solar atmosphere that is sensitive to these wavelengths. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0001 PI: Li, Xinlin Institution: University of Colorado Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Medium Energy Electron Telescope (MEET) Understanding the radiation environment at Earth is critical due to both scientific interests and practical needs. Developing a miniaturized, High-Energy-Resolution relativistic electron Telescope (HERT) that can be easily accommodated into future CubeSat/SmallSat missions will quantify the effect of acceleration mechanism throughout the entire radiation belts to GEO using a novel method of probing electron flux oscillations. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0008 PI: Bernstein, Gary Institution: University of Notre Dame Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Fast, Multi-spectral, Polarization-Sensitive IR Detectors for Solar Astronomy from 5 to 100 Microns The emission of the Sun at wavelengths from 3 to 100 um is a relatively unexplored region of the solar spectrum, but one that has raised some intriguing questions. This new class of high-cadence imaging detectors in this wavelength range that has novel polarization and spectral properties can address these questions and characterize the layer of the solar atmosphere that is sensitive to these wavelengths. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0005 PI: Savin, Daniel Institution: Columbia University Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Solar Science | Fe IX Line Survey and Density Sensitivity Studies in Support of the NASA Heliophysics Program One of the top questions for NASA Heliophysics is: “What causes the Sun to vary?”. The solar magnetic field plays a fundamental role in this variation and hence its measurement, made with magnetographs, is essential. Traditional magnetographs are large optical systems with elaborate designs and exquisite engineering and are heavy and expensive — which place limits on their use in space. A novel magnetograph leverages advances in Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs) and low-noise lasers that are being developed by the evolving telecommunications industry. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0026 PI Tejero, Erik: Institution: NRL Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Investigating Magnetospheric Whistler-Mode Chorus Features using SPSC Laboratory Experiments Whistler chorus waves are among the most intense natural plasma instabilities generated in the Earth’s magnetosphere and have been shown to play a dominant role in the electron dynamics in the outer radiation belts. Laboratory experiments will be used to directly observe the wave-particle interactions responsible for chorus wave generation and address the aforementioned scientific questions. This mission will result in a significant step towards understanding the fundamental physics of the generation of whistler chorus and the consequent impact on the space environment. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0003 PI: Kalogerakis, Konstantinos Institution: SRI International Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Laboratory Studies of OH(v) + O Multi-quantum Vibrational Relaxation Required for TIMED/SABER Observations One of the top questions for NASA Heliophysics is: “What causes the Sun to vary?”. The solar magnetic field plays a fundamental role in this variation and hence its measurement, made with magnetographs, is essential. Traditional magnetographs are large optical systems with elaborate designs and exquisite engineering and are heavy and expensive — which place limits on their use in space. A novel magnetograph leverages advances in Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs) and low-noise lasers that are being developed by the evolving telecommunications industry. |
| Proposal ID: 19-HTIDS-19-0006 PI: An, Xin Institution: University of California, Los Angeles Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Excitation of Whistler-Mode Chorus Waves in a Laboratory Plasma This project will improve the understanding and prediction of space weather. It is known that the chorus waves play an important role in the radiation belt physics. The laboratory experiments are able to determine what plasma parameters control the various characteristics (e.g., the lower and upper frequency limits, the frequency sweep rate, the saturation amplitude and the wave normal angle distribution) of chorus waves by performing detailed parameter scans. This will ultimately help us construct a wave model that can be used in the quasi-linear modeling of the radiation belt. |
2018
| Proposal ID: 18-HTIDS-18-0008 PI: Wiedenbeck, Mark Institution: JPL Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: Heliosphere | Extension of the dE/dx-E Technique Using Silicon Detectors to Below 1 MeV/nucleon Understanding the acceleration and transport of energetic particles accelerated at the Sun, in interplanetary space, and at the boundary of the heliosphere requires detectors that can characterize high energy particles. This project develops silicon detector telescopes optimized for measurements in the energy range ~0.5 MeV/nuc to >~5 MeV/nuc. This work builds on the successful development EPI-Hi instrument on Parker Solar Probe. This project will reduce the energy threshold of silicon detector telescopes to ~0.5 MeV/nuc, enable multiple dE/dx measurements for ions down to ~1 MeV/nuc to reduce backgrounds and resolve ambiguities among element response tracks. |
| Proposal ID: 18-HTIDS-18-00025 PI: Pillinski, Marcin Institution: University of Colorad0, Boulder Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Laboratory Investigation of Satellite Gas-Surface Interactions for Accurate Construction of Atmospheric Models Accurate estimates of neutral mass densities obtained from satellite drag are vital to NASA science objectives, including the construction of, validation, and assimilation into, atmospheric models. The interpretation of these measurements depends strongly on the assumptions made about atomic or molecular interactions with satellite surfaces. Such assumptions have been known to introduce errors into the construction of atmospheric models by modifying the aerodynamic coefficients that determine scaling factors between observed drag and atmospheric density. This project will investigate the interaction of atmospheric gases with spacecraft surfaces under conditions consistent with atmospheric pressures and composition near and above ~500 km altitude. |
| Proposal ID: 18-HTIDS-18-0050 PI: Schaeffer, D.B. Institution: University of California, Los Angeles Award: HTIDS-LNAPP ______________________ Research Regime: Magnetosphere | Understanding Electron and Ion Heating by Collisionless Shocks in Laboratory and Space Plasmas As a fundamental process for converting kinetic to thermal energy, collisionless shocks are ubiquitous throughout the heliosphere, from planetary bow shocks to coronal mass ejections. While they have been studied for decades by spacecraft and numerical simulations, there remains a key open question of how energy is partitioned between particles across a shock. The goal of this project is to study this shock heating process in well-controlled and well-diagnosed laboratory experiments, which will both complement ongoing observations by the MMS spacecraft and help benchmark simulations that bridge the gap between laboratory and space systems. |
| Proposal ID: 18-HTIDS-18-0060 PI: Immel, Thomas Institution: SSL/UCB Award: HTIDS-ITD ______________________ Research Regime: ITM | Small UV Imager for Heliophysics Science Investigations This effort seeks to develop a basic, reference transmissive imager with high spatial resolution and large field of view. Referred to as MUVI (Miniaturized UV Imager), the goal is to prove the system with a simple MgF lens focusing UV light on heritage UV sensitive intensifier tube, while implementing first a heritage 1k x 1k imaging capability, and then developing algorithms for spot centroiding that would result in up to 4k effective spatial resolution (i.e. sub pixel resolution). The advancements also will include reduction of size of the imaging electronics (readout and post-processing). Implementation of a centroiding algorithm will reduce the noise budget to Poisson statistics, obviating sources of noise inherent in most detector schemes. Overall, the expected reductions in mass, power and volume from any previous UV geospace imager will enable multiple cameras on large spacecraft/missions, or single implementations on smallsats, down to possibly a 6U cubesat. |