Award Abstract # 2149782
Collaborative Research: ANSWERS: The Satellite Surface Charging Observatory for Prediction, Understanding, Learning, and Industry

NSF Org: AGS
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
Initial Amendment Date: April 22, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: August 12, 2024
Award Number: 2149782
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Mangala Sharma
msharma@nsf.gov
 (703)292-4773
AGS
 Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: May 1, 2022
End Date: April 30, 2026 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $1,704,252.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $1,286,544.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $862,632.00
FY 2024 = $423,912.00
History of Investigator:
  • Adam Kellerman (Principal Investigator)
    akellerman@igpp.ucla.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of California-Los Angeles
10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700
LOS ANGELES
CA  US  90024-4200
(310)794-0102
Sponsor Congressional District: 36
Primary Place of Performance: University of California-Los Angeles
520 Portola Plaza
LOS ANGELES
CA  US  90095-1565
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
36
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): RN64EPNH8JC6
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS,
Space Weather Research
Primary Program Source: 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 4444, 8092
Program Element Code(s): 575000, 808900
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

Earth is surrounded by electrons and ions that create beautiful auroral displays but are also a hazard for orbiting satellites. These particles collect on satellite surfaces causing the satellite to charge to high levels. A sudden discharge can cause a damaging surge in electronic components and cause the satellite to behave in unexpected ways or completely stop responding. The SCOPULI project will investigate the physical mechanisms that produce this hazardous charged particle environment, educate society about the causes and effects of these charging events, and build tools to help government and industry prevent damaging impacts to our satellite infrastructure. SCOPULI is a collaborative project between the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Colorado Boulder, Space Hazards Applications, and Space Weather Solutions.

The project will develop physics- and machine-learning based models that span the solar wind and magnetosphere, and provide estimates of energetic (eV to keV) electron flux to predict spacecraft surface charging hazards. Models of electron population and of electric and magnetic fields, in combination with injection events with existing data products via data assimilation and machine learning, will be leveraged to develop a charging environment prediction capability. The models will allow users to provide their own satellite specifics, thus allowing for new or non-standard designs to be tested and provided charging predictions. The team will develop curriculum materials and interactive simulations with science teachers (grades 6-12), as well as industry-ready tools for real-time specification of space weather. A postdoc and graduate students will be involved in all aspects of the project. ANSWERS projects advance the nation?s STEM expertise and societal resilience to space weather hazards by filling key knowledge gaps regarding the coupled Sun-Earth system.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

Note:  When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

Curtis, Reed and Artemyev, Anton V. and Vainchtein, Dmitri L. and Kellerman, Adam and Morley, Steven K. and Angelopoulos, Vassilis "Comparison of Energetic Electron Fluxes Measured by GPS and THEMIS Spacecraft in the Inner Magnetosphere" Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics , v.127 , 2022 https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JA030724 Citation Details
Hua, Man and Bortnik, Jacob and Kellerman, Adam C. and Camporeale, Enrico and Ma, Qianli "Ensemble Modeling of Radiation Belt Electron Acceleration by Chorus Waves: Dependence on Key Input Parameters" Space Weather , v.21 , 2023 https://doi.org/10.1029/2022SW003234 Citation Details

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page