Despite the enormous progress in recent years, there is still a lack in understanding of several key links in the long chain of actions and reactions that.

Despite the enormous progress in recent years, there is Despite the enormous progress in recent years, there is still a lack in understanding of several key links in the long still a lack in understanding of several key links in the long chain of actions and reactions that connects our Earth to chain of actions and reactions that connects our Earth to its parent star, the Sun. They concern 1) the origin of its parent star, the Sun. They concern 1) the origin of disturbances at the Sun (flares and CMEs) and our inability disturbances at the Sun (flares and CMEs) and our inability to forecast them, 2) the propagation of their effects to the to forecast them, 2) the propagation of their effects to the Earth, 3) their capability of entering the Earth system, and Earth, 3) their capability of entering the Earth system, and 4) the magnitude of the terrestrial effects. I will review 4) the magnitude of the terrestrial effects. I will review these processes and point out where the KuaFu mission is these processes and point out where the KuaFu mission is supposed to achieve better understanding, in context with supposed to achieve better understanding, in context with the International Living With a Star (ILWS) program.the International Living With a Star (ILWS) program.

Space Weather Science and the KuaFu projectSpace Weather Science and the KuaFu projectRainer Schwenn

Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Lindau, [email protected]

KuaFu status presented to the ILWS in Uppsala, 12.June 2007

105 attendees, more than 80 presentations

The missing links in the Sun-Earth chainThe missing links in the Sun-Earth chain

• Photospheric reponse to vortex flows in Photospheric reponse to vortex flows in the convection zone in terms of build-up the convection zone in terms of build-up of magnetic stresses and helicity: of magnetic stresses and helicity:

potential warning signs potential warning signs hidden!hidden!

• The role of reconnection: driver, trigger, The role of reconnection: driver, trigger, or sequelor sequel

• Flare/CME type and SEP accelerationFlare/CME type and SEP acceleration

• Transformation of CMEs into ICMEsTransformation of CMEs into ICMEs

• Propagation of ICMEs through the Propagation of ICMEs through the ambient solar windambient solar wind

• Relation of shock/sheath/cloud topology Relation of shock/sheath/cloud topology with eruptive filamentwith eruptive filament

• Relation of geomagnetic response with Relation of geomagnetic response with upstream parametersupstream parameters

123 4

To understand the complete chain of actions/reactions To understand the complete chain of actions/reactions from the solar atmosphere to geo-space, we must from the solar atmosphere to geo-space, we must

study:study:

1.1. Sources of eruptions:Sources of eruptions:Warning signs for flares, CMEs, SEPs Warning signs for flares, CMEs, SEPs

2.2. Propagation of disturbances:Propagation of disturbances: Interplanetary clouds, radio waves, shock waves, Interplanetary clouds, radio waves, shock waves, SEPsSEPs

3.3. Geo-effectiveness : Geo-effectiveness :

Aurora activities, sub-storms, magnetic storms, Aurora activities, sub-storms, magnetic storms,

4.4. Effects at and near the Earth:Effects at and near the Earth:Satellite protection, GICs, radiation doses, bioeffects,Satellite protection, GICs, radiation doses, bioeffects,

5.5. Realistic (running!) computer models:Realistic (running!) computer models:The complete Sun-heliosphere-Earth system.The complete Sun-heliosphere-Earth system.

What is needed in space weather science?What is needed in space weather science?

Present situation for space weather Present situation for space weather missions:missions:

• SOHOSOHO at L1 (EIT, LASCO, MDI, CELIAS, ERNE, et al.), in orbit since at L1 (EIT, LASCO, MDI, CELIAS, ERNE, et al.), in orbit since 1995, nominal life time exceeded but still operational, funding safe 1995, nominal life time exceeded but still operational, funding safe until 2008, LASCO maybe longer. until 2008, LASCO maybe longer. But: No magnetometer on boardBut: No magnetometer on board

• ACEACE at L1 (MAG, SWEPAM, et al.), in orbit since 1997, nominal life at L1 (MAG, SWEPAM, et al.), in orbit since 1997, nominal life time exceeded but still operational, funding safe until ??? time exceeded but still operational, funding safe until ??? But: No optical instruments, no radio wave instrument..But: No optical instruments, no radio wave instrument..

• WINDWIND near L1 (Waves, SWE, EPACT etc), in orbit since 1994, near L1 (Waves, SWE, EPACT etc), in orbit since 1994, nominal life time exceeded but still operational, about to be shut nominal life time exceeded but still operational, about to be shut off.off.But: No optical instrumentsBut: No optical instruments

• TRACETRACE (UV/EUV high resolution disk imager) in Earth orbit since (UV/EUV high resolution disk imager) in Earth orbit since 1998, nominal life time exceeded, still operational, about to be shut 1998, nominal life time exceeded, still operational, about to be shut off.off.But:But: No in situ instruments, no coronagraphNo in situ instruments, no coronagraph

Future space weather missions:Future space weather missions:

• STEREO A&BSTEREO A&B (PLASTIC, IMPACT, SECCHI, SWAVES), in Earth-like (PLASTIC, IMPACT, SECCHI, SWAVES), in Earth-like orbits, launched in 2006, life time probably not more than 3 yearsorbits, launched in 2006, life time probably not more than 3 yearsBut: will lose context with Earth after 3 years.But: will lose context with Earth after 3 years.

• HinodeHinode (EUV imaging spectrometer, X-ray telescope), in Earth orbit, (EUV imaging spectrometer, X-ray telescope), in Earth orbit, launched in 2006,launched in 2006,But: no in-situ instruments, no coronagraphBut: no in-situ instruments, no coronagraph

• Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO),Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), in Earth orbit, to be launched in in Earth orbit, to be launched in 2008, life time more than 4 years2008, life time more than 4 years

• But: no in-situ instruments, no coronagraphBut: no in-situ instruments, no coronagraph

• Solar Orbiter, in near-Sun execliptic orbit, launch 2015 (?)Solar Orbiter, in near-Sun execliptic orbit, launch 2015 (?)But: not much context with EarthBut: not much context with Earth

• Sentinels 2013 ??Sentinels 2013 ??

• Solar Probe ???Solar Probe ???

Present situation in space weather science:Present situation in space weather science:

• SOHO and ACE are in excellent status right now. They may live much SOHO and ACE are in excellent status right now. They may live much longer, but they might as well die every day in their extended mission.longer, but they might as well die every day in their extended mission.

• Wind is about to be terminated.Wind is about to be terminated.

• STEREO A&BSTEREO A&B will lose context with Earth after 3 years. will lose context with Earth after 3 years.

• That means:That means:No in-situ data on space weather will be available when both, SOHO and No in-situ data on space weather will be available when both, SOHO and ACE, will be finished. The 2 STEREO S/C will be out of range after about ACE, will be finished. The 2 STEREO S/C will be out of range after about 2009, anyway.2009, anyway.

• That means further:That means further:

Within a few yearsWithin a few years from now, we might again be completely blind with from now, we might again be completely blind with respect to space weather!respect to space weather!

Therefore:Therefore:

KuaFu is badly needed!KuaFu is badly needed!

Sixth KuaFu Science Committee (KSC) Meeting

Jan 18th, 2007 and Jan 19th, 2007 ShanHaiTian Hotel, Sanya, China

The attending KSC members all agreed that KSC should finalize the model payload and will

consider no more new instrument proposals before the AO process. The model payload of

KuaFu-A keeps the payload decided by the third KSC meeting on July 18th, 2006. The model

payload of KuaFu-B is based principally also on the decision of the third KSC meeting, plus a

newly added plasmasphere EUV imager and a search coil wave instrument.

The first International Coordinating Meeting on the KuaFu Mission

January 15, 2007, Sanya, China

Chair: Mr. Keran Wang (CNSA)

Attendees:– Hermann Opgenoorth ( ESA)

– William Liu (CSA)and other 16 representatives from related agencies

Endorse the formation of the coordinating groupwith membership from CNSA (Chair), ESA and CSA

KuaFu SRD (Chinese v.) approved

The report (in Chinese) of the scientific goals and observations of KuaFu mission has been approved by a very high level review meeting supervised by CNSA

on Jun 1st, 2007.

The review report gives the KuaFu mission a high evaluation and suggests a launch time around 2012. This just means a green light from the Chinese space

science community, and it will certainly have influence on CNSA.

Schedule for SRD, PDD and SMP

KuaFu is now a background project of CNSA.

The comprehensive review including SRD and PDD will be finished in August 2007.

Hopefully in September 2007:CNSA and ESA, together with CSA and other national funding

agencies, can collaborate on the formulation of a Science Management Plan (SMP), which should define each agency’s

responsibilities, and describe how to execute science operation and science data handling for the mission.