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.
The annual Hinode-14 science workshop was successfully held in conjunction with the IRIS-11 meeting on 10/25-29/21. The event was sponsored by the Naval Research Laboratory and held entirely virtual (managed by George Mason University). There were 344 registrants for the …
Marshall ST10 (Walt Petersen and Nicole Pelfrey) leaders and ST13 members (David McKenzie, Mitzi Adams, and Michael Zanetti) met with NASA Wallops Flight Facility management (David Pierce, WFF Director, and Range Management Staff led by Scott Schaire) to discuss use …
Dennis Gallagher (ST13) spoke to two physics classes at North High School in Des Moines, Iowa, his Alma Mater on 11/5/2021. The title of his presentation, “I’m From Iowa; I Only Work In Space,” focuses on his educational experiences formal …
MSFC Researcher Speaks to High School Physics Classes About His Education and Career Read More »
Neutron Measurements on the Lunar Surface (NMLS) is a project to deliver an instrument manifested on Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine Lander Mission One, to be launched on the new ULA Vulcan Centaur, landing on the Lacus Mortis plateau (44oN, 25oE). Astrobotic …
Delivery and Mechanical Integration of NMLS Flight Unit Read More »
On 10/8/21, the CLASP2.1 sounding rocket experiment was launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Observing the Sun for more than six minutes, CLASP2.1 measured the linear and circular polarization across several important ultraviolet spectral lines formed in …
Successful Launch of Chromospheric Layer Spectropolarimeter (CLASP2.1) Sounding Rocket Read More »