Effects of Space Weather

Societal Challenge The effects of space weather pose significant and increasing societal, economic, national security, and health risks to the United States and nations worldwide. These include risks to the electric power grid; aviation operations; positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services; satellites and communications; human space exploration; and other space-based assets. Overview Space weather refers to variations in the space environment between the Sun and Earth, and throughout the solar system, that have the potential to adversely affect critical functions, assets, and operations in space and on Earth. Events driven by space weather can disrupt the technology that forms the backbone of this country's economic vitality and national security. There is a need to develop the next generation of space-based observations and models to improve space weather predictive capability integrating emergent technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to enhance space weather capabilities. Examples of appropriate research topic areas for applications from small businesses include, but are not limited to products and services that accomplish the following objectives: Advance region-specific space weather products and services that provide decision-makers with improved characterization and prediction of the timing, intensity, and impact of space weather events on critical infrastructure Expand observational tools that supports short-term and long-term predictions of space weather including continuity of solar wind measurements and new imagery of the solar corona Help in the development of plans and procedures for responding to and recovering from space weather events including tools that facilitate advanced warning of geomagnetic storms