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International Coordination and Support for SmallSat-enabled Space Weather Activities
  • +4
  • Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla,
  • Bhavya Lal,
  • Robert Robinson,
  • Amir Caspi,
  • David Robert Jackson,
  • Therese Moretto Jorgensen,
  • James F. Spann
Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla
CUA, CUA

Corresponding Author:teresa.nieves-chinchil-1@nasa.gov

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Bhavya Lal
IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute, IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute
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Robert Robinson
NASA GSFC, NASA GSFC
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Amir Caspi
Southwest Research Institute, Southwest Research Institute
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David Robert Jackson
Met Office, Met Office
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Therese Moretto Jorgensen
UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN, UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN
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James F. Spann
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
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Abstract

Advances in space weather science and small satellite (SmallSat) technology have proceeded in parallel over the past two decades, but as these fields have matured there is a need for better communication and coordination among the respective communities contributing to this rapid progress. We identify six areas where improved international coordination is especially desirable. These include: (1) orbital debris mitigation; (2) communication protocols and spectrum management; (3) export regulations; (4) launch opportunities; (5) data policies; and (6) education. Recent successful SmallSat missions, as well as proposed or notional mission concepts, are detailed in the companion papers in this special issue. Here, we argue the need for policies and programs under international coordination to promote the use of SmallSats for space weather research and forecasting, and to ensure that maximum scientific and technical advances are realized through the integration of these two increasingly important endeavors.
Dec 2020Published in Space Weather volume 18 issue 12. 10.1029/2020SW002568