NASA Space Technology Report: Heliophysics - The New Science of the Sun-Solar System Connection, Recommended Roadmap for Science and Technology 2005-2035

This NASA report describes a renewed strategic outlook to provide essential space environment knowledge for the benefit of society and for space exploration. It communicates our progress made to date, our plans for the future, and our opportunities for supporting the Agency's vision and mission. The field of Space Physics has made rapid and spectacular advances over the past few years. Utilization of combinations of missions, each one with its own complement of instruments, has been vital to the emergence of a new view of the Sun and Solar System as a connected system. There will be further dramatic advances as observational techniques, new missions, and a new understanding of how microphysical processes influence broad-scale dynamics emerge in the not-too-distant future. Each discovery impels us to ask new questions or regard old ones in new ways. How and why does the Sun vary? How do planetary systems respond? What are the impacts on humanity? This roadmap outlines a common groundwork of inquiry spanning all the space physics branches of learning. It is anticipated that this will lead to a unification of long-separated fields of inquiry; thereby enabling the emergence of new and significant scientific insights. Heliophysics is the comprehensive new term for the science of the Sun-Solar System Connection; exploration, discovery, and understanding of our space environment; system science that unites all of the linked phenomena in the region of the cosmos influenced by a star like our Sun. Heliophysics concentrates on the Sun and its effects on Earth, the other planets of the solar system, and the changing conditions in space. Heliophysics studies the magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, and upper atmosphere of the Earth and other planets. Heliophysics combines the science of the Sun, corona, heliosphere and geospace.
Heliophysics encompasses cosmic rays and particle acceleration, space weather and radiation, dust and magnetic reconnection, solar activity and stellar cycles, aeronomy and space plasmas, magnetic fields and global change, and the interactions of the solar system with our galaxy.

Forward: The Heliophysics Roadmap to Discovery and Exploration * Heliophysics Science Objectives * Executive Summary * The Heliophysics Great Observatory in Action: The 2003 Halloween Solar Storms * Chapter 1. A New Science for the Age of Exploration: Heliophysics * The Calm Between the Storms. * Chapter 2. Heliophysics: The Science * Heliophysics Science and Exploration Research Focus Areas * Objective F - Open the Frontier to Space Environment Prediction * Objective H - Understand the Nature of Our Home in Space * Objective J - Safeguard the Journey of Exploration * Chapter 3. Heliophysics: The Program * Prioritized Implementation Strategy * Anticipated Science & Exploration Achievements * Solar Terrestrial Probes * Measurements of the Solar Wind Up-Stream from Earth * Living With a Star * The Explorer Program * Flagship and Partnership Missions * Low Cost Access to Space * Scientific Research and Analysis * Research Infrastructure * Chapter 4. Heliophysics: The Missions * The Evolving Heliophysics Great Observatory * Candidate Heliophysics Missions Linked to Research Focus Areas * Heliophysics Missions Currently in Development * Near-Term Heliophysics Missions * Intermediate Term Heliophysics Missions * Future Heliophysics Missions * Partnership Missions * Chapter 5. Heliophysics: Technology Investments * Enabling & Enhancing Technologies * Chapter 6: Heliophysics: Sun-Solar System Connection Impacts * Education and Public Outreach * Challenges & Recommendations for Effective E/PO * Links Between Heliophysics and Other NASA Activities * Advancing U.S. Scientific, Education, Security, and Economic Interests * External Drivers of the Heliophysics Program