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K. Strong (Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center), J. Slavin (GSFC)
Early in 1999 nearly 200 representatives of the solar, heliospheric and geospace science communities assembled in Maryland to provide inputs to the next Strategic Plan for the Sun Earth Connections (SEC) theme. A NASA-appointed committee then took the community consensus on the key scientific questions, observational priorities and mission concepts to create a series of SEC Quests and Campaigns that would lead to a better understanding of solar variability and changes in the geospace environment.
The basic conclusions were: 1) The Solar Terrestrial Probe line should be accelerated to provide mission overlap 2) Significant technology development of mission critical elements is needed (e.g., solar sails and nanosats) 3) NASA should explore the space environment beyond the heliopause 4) A space weather network should be initiated
The scope and implementation of the overall SEC plan will be described in this talk with particular emphasis on the recommendations that will impact the solar community.