Space solar physics and space weather

In force date
Call year
2024
Investigator
Christoph Alexander Kuckein
Amount granted to the IAC Consortium
350.000,00 €
Description

Five are the main objectives of this coordinated project, which are nevertheless synergistically related to one another. First, we must continue contributing to the operations and scientific exploitation of the Polarimetric and Helioseismic imager instrument on board the ESAs Solar Orbiter mission (SO/PHI). The mission will soon, in February 2025, modify its orbit around the Sun using the gravitational assistance of Venus to increase its latitude above the solar ecliptic to a maximum of 30 degrees by the end of the extended mission phase. This is the first time in human history that a man-made artifact will observe the magnetism of the Sun from such a vantage point. The coordinator of this project is the Co-Principal Investigator of SO/PHI together with Prof. S.K. Solanki from the Max-Planck-Institute for Solar System Research (MPS; Goettingen, Germany). Second, we aim to lead the data reduction of the Tunable Magnetograph, TuMag, and the scientific exploitation and dissemination of TuMag and Sunrise Chromospheric Infrared Polarimeter (SCIP) data. Both instruments flew on the Sunrise III mission in July 2024. Our coordinated team has fully developed TuMag and is Co- Principal Investigator of SCIP, led by Dr. Y. Katsukawa of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). The coordinated team provided the electronics, cameras, control software and firmware, and ground segment for this instrument. Third, we plan to participate in the last part of phase C and phase D of the development of the Photospheric Magnetic Field Imager (PMI) instrument for the upcoming ESA Space Safety Programme (S2P) Vigil mission (previously called Lagrange), the first of the new European efforts to provide dedicated technical tools for space weather forecasting. We have already contributed to phases A, B, and C of its development and have successfully passed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in December 2024. Fourth, we want to perform basic research in the various technology disciplines involved in our five coordinated groups that strengthen our capabilities as a team. And fifth, we want to do the basic research necessary to advance our knowledge of the Sun by 1) exploiting the data from the three Sunrise flights; 2) exploiting the data from SO/PHI; 3) analyzing data from other space-based and ground-based instruments; and 4) conducting theoretical studies of the Sun's magnetic field. This scientific goal fully justifies all the technological efforts that have been and will be made.

State of being in force
Level
Type of funding
State
AEI
EU_COFINANCIADO POR LA UNIÓN EUROPEA
MICIU