NASA is embarking on two heliophysics missions ready to study and understand the systems that control space weather near Earth. The two missions are the Epsilon Mission Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscopic High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope (EUVST) and the Zeeman Electrojet Imaging Explorer (EZIE).
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Studying the physics of driving solar winds and explosions could help space researchers in the future and protect spacecraft and other space technologies. “We are delighted to add these new missions to the growing fleet of satellites exploring our Sun-Earth system using an incredible selection of unprecedented observers,” he said. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
The missions
EUVST is a solar telescope launched in 2026 that will study how the solar atmosphere releases solar wind and drives an explosion of solar materials. “We are excited to work with our international partners to answer some of our fundamental questions about the Sun,” said Nicky Fox, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “EUVST’s ideas will complement our existing missions to give us a fresh perspective on our star. “The project is led by Japan Aerospace Research Agency (JAXA).
Meanwhile, EZIE is a trio of CubeSats launched no earlier than June 2024 and will attempt to study electric currents in the Earth’s atmosphere connecting aurora to the Earth’s magnetosphere. “With these new missions, we are expanding how we study the Sun, space and the Earth as an interconnected system,” said Peg Luce, deputy director of the Heliophysics Department at NASA Headquarters in and Washington. “EZIE’s use of proven instrument technology on Earth science CubeSat missions is just one example of how NASA’s science and technology development will go hand in hand across subjects. ”
The total budget for EUVST is $ 55 million while the EZIE mission budget $ 53.3 million.