CEDAR email: ENLoTIS Working Group

[McCormack, John (HQ-DJ000)]

Call for Letters of Application for Membership in ESA/NASA Lower Thermosphere-Ionosphere Science (ENLoTIS) Working Group:
DUE 11:59 hrs Central European Time 21 March 2022.

The ESA Earth Observation Science, Applications, and Climate Department, together with the Heliophysics Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, is establishing an informal working group to cooperatively explore future lower thermosphere-ionosphere (LTI) satellite mission concepts, targeting very low altitude (100-200 km) in situ sampling of relevant geophysical parameters for neutrals, plasma, electromagnetic fields, and energetic particles that together will enable advancements in process understanding of neutral-ion interactions and other related science topics. The specific altitude region of interest sits at the interface between Earth and Space, focusing on the lower thermosphere and the ionospheric E-region in particular.

Use of low-flying spacecraft for the exploration of the LTI system builds on earlier proposals to the ESA Earth Observation Programme and aligns with the 2020 Science Plan for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD); SCIENCE 2020-2024: A Vision for Scientific Excellence. Such a mission concept also has anticipated alignment with NASA missions currently in development, in particular with the Geospace Dynamics Constellation, to study the coupling between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere/thermosphere system.

The primary activities of the ENLoTIS working group will be to review, revise, justify, and consolidate consensus science questions/goals, mission objectives, and high-level mission requirements driving the definition and design of (a) future mission concept(s). The group will also identify scientific priorities, as well as scientific and technical challenges and constraints associated with these requirements in view of facilitating trade-offs, future feasibility assessments, and identifying candidate instrument methods.

The ENLoTIS working group will consist of an equal number of experts from both European, Canadian, and US research communities external to ESA and NASA. Upon its formation, it is anticipated that this group will meet on an ad hoc basis up to 4 times a year, and membership is expected to be reviewed in early 2023. All applications from the US, and ESA Member States, Associate Members and Cooperating States will be collected through ESA Earth Observation Programmes’ Advisory Group website (https://missionadvice.esa.int), and should include, in a single PDF file, a short (2 page limit) CV and a one page explanation of the applicant’s research background, expected contributions to the ENLoTIS working group, and statement of availability during the initial 12-24 month period of the group’s activities. Members will be selected collaboratively by ESA and NASA agency representatives based upon demonstrated expertise in areas relevant to lower thermospheric-ionospheric research.

For more information on the ENLoTIS working group, including a description of desired areas of expertise for the group, please see the call website (https://missionadvice.esa.int/esa-nasa-science-working-group/).

For further information on the group or application process, please submit questions at https://missionadvice.esa.int/contact-us/.

Letters of application must be received no later than 05:59 hrs Eastern US time or 11:59 hrs Central European Time on 21 March 2022.


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