Heliophysics and Planetary Science Branch
The Heliophysics and Planetary Science Branch studies the coupled Sun-Earth system and the terrestrial planets and icy satellites of our solar system. Our heliophysics portfolio includes instrumentation development, sounding rocket flight, and research focusing on energy transfer across physical scales throughout the solar atmosphere. Our planetary science portfolio includes research on the origin, composition, and evolution of terrestrial planetary bodies, focusing on geological, geophysical, and related models, experiments, and observations conducted in the field, laboratory, and via analysis of remotely sensed data from space-based missions.
Michael Zanetti (ST13), Kyle Miller (EV42), and Walter King (ES22) recently shared some images from an abstract they authored about the Kinematic Navigation and Cartography Knapsack (KNaCK) Tech Demo at JETT3. The demonstration used SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) LIDAR …
Using KNacK and SLAM LIDAR as a Tool for Cave Mapping Read More »
Mitzi Adams and Adam Kobelski (ST11) gave a presentation titled “The Sun, Solar Cycle 25, and the Tale of Two Eclipses” at the Tellico Village in Tennessee on 2/23/23. The talk discussed the origins of the solar cycle, and its …
Linda Habash Krause (ST13) participated as a judge for a paper airplane contest held on 2/24/2023 at University of Alabama, Huntsville. The event, sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), provided people from all ages – from …
Participation in STEM Outreach: AIAA Paper Airplane Contest Read More »
Dennis Gallagher (ST13), Heidi Haviland (ST13) and Sarah Dunn, co-authored and submitted an invited perspective paper on diversity and inclusion to a special Frontiers Journal in Astronomy and Space Sciences issue. The paper is titled “The Importance of Local Long-Duration …
Paper on Mentoring Accepted by the Journal Frontiers Read More »
The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT) satellite is undergoing its commissioning phase in low Earth orbit (LEO). The housekeeping data, including subsystem temperatures and power system currents and voltages, indicate that the satellite is in good health. The satellite …