Background The 2002 NRC decadal strategy study for solar and space physics, The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond, recommended a robust research program for NASA and NSF that would also address the operational needs of NOAA and DOD. The report includes a recommended suite of activities at NASA, which were ordered by priority, presented in an appropriate sequence, and selected to fit within expected resources during the next decade. In early 2004 NASA proposed to adopt major new goals for human and robotic exploration of the solar system that will depend, in part, on basic and applied research in solar and space physics. In view of the fact that the 2002 NRC strategy did not reflect the new exploration goals, a review of the strategy and of the roles that the solar and space physics program should play in support of the new goals is needed.

NASA’s solar and space physics program is conducted by the Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Division of the Office of Space Science. At the time of the decadal survey, the SEC program included two ongoing mission lines—the Solar-Terrestrial Probes (STP) and the longstanding series of smaller Explorer missions—plus a new series of missions that were planned to create the “Living With a Star” (LWS) program. Following introduction of the new space exploration goals, NASA plans to move forward with the LWS initiative, which focuses on aspects of space weather. However, elements of the STP and Explorer programs may be deferred in view of their being assigned a lower priority in the context of preparations for human missions to the Moon and Mars. The more applied LWS program is seen as necessary to supply information on the environment of space travel between Earth and the Moon and Mars and on how it is controlled by solar activity. The STP and Explorer missions address more basic scientific questions that are not viewed as being as immediately relevant to human exploration.

Nevertheless, OMB and NASA recognize that a strong basic research program is essential to the existence and growth of any applied science, and they have asked the NRC to provide advice on how and where the basic research aspects of the SEC program are needed to ensure that the applications needs of the exploration program are solidly grounded. The need to describe the connection to Exploration was not foreseen during the decadal survey.

The 2002 solar and space physics decadal survey report summarized the state of knowledge about the physics of the Sun, the interplanetary medium, and the space environments of Earth and other solar system bodies, and it posed key scientific questions for further research. The report also set out an integrated research strategy, with prioritized initiatives, for the next decade. The recommended strategy embraced both basic research programs and applied research activities that will enhance knowledge and prediction of space weather effects on Earth. While the report’s attention to space weather issues elaborated on needs and strategies for addressing effects on terrestrial systems and on both civilian and defense spacecraft in Earth orbit, the effects of space weather on future human missions beyond Earth