The PAC2MAN mission: a new tool to understand and predict solar energetic events

Amaya, Jorge; Musset, Sophie; Andersson, Viktor; Diercke, Andrea; Höller, Christian; Iliev, Sergiu; Juhász, Lilla; Kiefer, René; Lasagni, Riccardo; Lejosne, Solene; Madi, Mohammad; Rummelhagen, Mirko; Scheucher, Markus; Sorba, Arianna; Thonhofer, Stefan. 2015 The PAC2MAN mission: a new tool to understand and predict solar energetic events. Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, 5, A5. 16, pp. 10.1051/swsc/2015005

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2015005

Abstract/Summary

An accurate forecast of flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) initiation requires precise measurements of the magnetic energy buildup and release in the active regions of the solar atmosphere. We designed a new space weather mission that performs such measurements using new optical instruments based on the Hanle and Zeeman effects. The mission consists of two satellites, one orbiting the L1 Lagrangian point (Spacecraft Earth, SCE) and the second in heliocentric orbit at 1AU trailing the Earth by 80° (Spacecraft 80, SC80). Optical instruments measure the vector magnetic field in multiple layers of the solar atmosphere. The orbits of the spacecraft allow for a continuous imaging of nearly 73% of the total solar surface. In-situ plasma instruments detect solar wind conditions at 1AU and ahead of our planet. Earth-directed CMEs can be tracked using the stereoscopic view of the spacecraft and the strategic placement of the SC80 satellite. Forecasting of geoeffective space weather events is possible thanks to an accurate surveillance of the magnetic energy buildup in the Sun, an optical tracking through the interplanetary space, and in-situ measurements of the near-Earth environment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1051/swsc/2015005
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Climate
ISSN:	2115-7251
Additional Keywords:	space weather, spacecraft, missions, coronal mass ejection (CME), flare
Date made live:	14 Apr 2015 10:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510621

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1051/swsc/2015005

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Climate

ISSN:

2115-7251

Additional Keywords:

space weather, spacecraft, missions, coronal mass ejection (CME), flare

Date made live:

14 Apr 2015 10:41 +0 (UTC)