National Aeronautics and Administration

Gsfc Heliophysics Science Division 2009 Science Highlights National Aeronautics and Administration

Publisher Marketing: This report presents the scientific, technological, and flight project achievements of the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Heliophysics Science Division (HSD) for FY09. HSD consists of 299 scientists, technologists, engineers, education and public outreach specialists, and administrative personnel dedicated to advancing our knowledge and understanding of the Sun and the wide variety of domains influenced by its variability. HSD's Mission is to explore the Sun's interior and atmosphere, discover the origins of its temporal variability, understand its influence over the Earth and the other planets, and determine the nature of the interaction between the heliosphere and the local interstellar medium. Our major activities include: Leading science investigations involving flight hardware, theory, modeling, and data analysis that will answer the strategic questions posed in the Heliophysics Roadmap; Leading the development of new solar and space physics mission concepts and supporting their implementation as Project Scientists; Providing access to measurements from the Heliophysics Great Observatory (HGO) through our Science Information Systems; Communicating science results to the public and inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers. Our strategic goals are to: Open the frontier to space environment prediction; Understand the nature of our home in space; Safeguard the journey of exploration.