This proposal provides for the collection and analysis of individual and simultaneous measurements of the plasma characteristics of protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions on the stereo observatories…

The University of New Hampshire (UNH), operating under the University System of New Hampshire, was awarded a $1.85M grant by NASA's Shared Services Center on December 18, 2019, to support scientific research operations through December 17, 2024. The award funds the collection and analysis of plasma characteristics measurements from protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions aboard NASA's STEREO observatories using the Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) sensors. The three-year performance period encompasses the predicted solar sunspot minimum of 2019-2020 and aligns with NASA Heliophysics division priorities, specifically addressing space weather characterization throughout the heliosphere and solar wind behavior near solar minimum, with secondary focus on pickup ion science and interplanetary coronal mass events observed by multiple spacecraft assets. No set-aside designation was used in this competitive award.

The research initiative directly supports NASA's Heliophysics Roadmap focus areas for space environment prediction, understanding Earth's space environment, and enabling safe exploration operations. UNH's established capabilities in space instrumentation and solar physics research, demonstrated through prior NASA contract work including solar wind plasma sensor development, positioned the institution to lead this critical science effort. The award represents continued federal investment in heliospheric science and space weather research during a key period in the solar cycle, leveraging STEREO's unique dual-spacecraft perspective to advance understanding of solar-terrestrial relationships and improve space weather forecasting capabilities.

This proposal provides for the collection and analysis of individual and simultaneous measurements of the plasma characteristics of protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions on the stereo observatories through the operation of the plasma and suprathermal ION composition (plastic) sensors. The proposed period of performance brackets the predicted sunspot minimum (2019-2020) of the solar sunspot cycle. The prioritized plastic science goals for the three year period of this grant fall into two broad categories, aligned with the current prioritized science goals for the stereo mission: (1) characterize space weather throughout the heliosphere (2) study the solar wind near solar minimum. There may be other topics of opportunity, including pickup ION science topics, and icmes observed by multiple s/c assets at 1 AU. The two primary categories are aligned with objectives as stated for the stereo mission in the senior review of heliophysics operating missions (2017). This proposal addresses NASA heliophysics roadmap (2009-2030) focus areas f (open the frontier to space environment prediction), h (understand the nature of our home in space), and j (safeguard the journey of exploration).