Geospace Observer from Large Distance (GOLD)

1. Geospace Observer from Large Distance (GOLD) • Science Objectives: • Understand the dynamic coupling of the magnetospheric system to solar wind variations • Understand the evolution of the ionosphere in response to the magnetospheric driver • Understand critical global parameters and dynamics that drive physical prediction models • Associated RFAs: • F1. Understand the role of plasma and neutral interactions in nonlinear coupling of regions throughout the solar system. • H2. Determine changes in the Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere to enable specification, prediction, and mitigation of their effects. • J1. Characterize the variability, extremes, and boundary conditions of the space environments that will be encountered by human and robotic explorers. Mission Implementation Description: *Single spacecraft to image the magnetosphere, the plasmasphere, and the ionosphere *Location: Lunar orbit (Other possiblities include L1, heliocentric Earth synchronous) *Attitude Control: 3-axis stabilized *Instruments (all Imaging) - Magnetospheric Imaging Coronagraph (MAGIC) - Magnetotail Reconnection Imaging Exp (MATRIX) - Plamaspheric Imaging Experiment (PIXI) - Ionospheric Imager (II) *Payload resources required (100 kg/80 W/250 kbps) Measurement Strategy: Images obtained 1/min at a resolution of 1000 km to reveal global magnetospheric structure • Enabling Technology Development: • No enabling technology necessary • Enhancing Technology Development: • Lightweight advanced baffle design • High-performance computing on board, or large continuous data downlink • Lightweight optics