National Space Weather Program (NSWP)

NSWP Community Input Questionnaire

The United States National Space Weather Program (NSWP) began ten years ago as a collaborative enterprise between the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Defense (DoD). The NSWP has operated under the auspices of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM) and is based upon a Strategic Plan and an Implementation Plan which can be found at the following Web site: http://www.nswp.gov/nswp_docs.htm.

The OFCM, in conjunction with its Committee for Space Weather is now supporting a decadal review of the NSWP. This review is to quantify and document the progress toward meeting program goals. An Assessment Committee*, comprised of researchers with meteorological, space physics, astrophysics, and policy backgrounds is gathering input from the broad communities in the United States involved in space weather research and applications, including operations. The assessment committee will perform a comprehensive review, which it can best achieve with very strong community participation. All those interested in the NSWP are strongly encouraged to comment on successes, shortfalls, and possible future directions of the program. Brief or extended comments are most welcome for the following questions:

0) Is your primary space weather activity research (military, civil), design, civil operations, military operations, commercial, or other? (Please specify).

1) What have you seen as the roles of the academic and research communities in the NSWP, including its successes and shortcomings? Are these roles appropriate and what changes might be required in the future?

2) As seen from your perspective, are there notable successes of the NSWP? What elements of the program have contributed most to these successes? Are there measurable benefits to your research program, commercial efforts, or civil/military operational program and, if so, will they help justify future research and/or technology development?

3) Where are the present weaknesses in the NSWP as you see them? How would you suggest addressing any shortfalls and/or weaknesses in the program?

4) Are new directions in the program in light of national priorities or recent research breakthroughs needed in the near and longer term?

5a) For those respondents with primarily commercial or governmental operational interests, are new directions in light of evolving customer needs appropriate?

5b) For those respondents with primarily research interests, are new directions/methods of doing research required in the near and longer term (e.g., because of the Presidents new emphasis on interplanetary travel)?

6) What new techniques, if any, are necessary to optimize the transition of your research to operations?

7) Is education about the NSWP for developers, providers and users keeping pace with research and transition activities? What new educational priorities would most serve the needs of the space weather research, governmental, or commercial community?

8) What new and/or additional methods are needed to further NSWP outreach objectives?

9) Any general comments on NSWP successes, shortfalls, and possible future directions of the program?

10) Please include any special instructions you may have for the disposition of your submitted comments (i.e. are your comments confidential, etc.)

Name (optional):

Email Address (optional):

*NSWP Assessment Committee Members:

Chair: Louis J. Lanzerotti, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Daniel N. Baker, University of Colorado
Tammy E. Jernigan, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Delores J. Knipp, U. S. Air Force Academy
Ray A. Williamson, George Washington University
S. Pete Worden, University of Arizona
Robert J. Rizza, Executive Secretary, Office of Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

Last Modified: July 22, 2005