The United States remains dedicated to advancing space weather observation and prediction capabilities and is keen on enhancing international cooperation in this area. This commitment was reinforced in a statement by U.S. Representative Kevin Conole during the 62nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria.
Addressing the assembly, Conole highlighted the ongoing solar maximum period for Solar Cycle 25, noting an increase in sunspots and energetic events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections over the past year. These phenomena are the focus of current measurements and research aimed at improving modeling and forecasting abilities.
"The United States leads and participates in numerous initiatives to improve space weather observations and services," Conole stated. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration, he added that international partnerships are vital in predicting and mitigating severe space weather events.
The United States, as part of its 2019 National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan, continues to prioritize the sharing of space weather data and forecasts on an open basis. Efforts are ongoing to enhance space weather models and strengthen operational forecasts through international cooperation.
Significant strides have been made with the launch of the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) 19, which includes the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1). This instrument is the world's first operational space-based coronagraph tasked with observing the sun's corona. Moreover, NOAA plans to launch the Space Weather Follow On mission later this year to further collect and analyze solar data.
NASA remains committed to advancing the scientific understanding of space weather. Various initiatives, including the HERMES science payload and the Joint Extreme Ultraviolet Light Coronal Diagnostic Investigation (JEDI), are underway. In addition, NASA's Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office provided crucial analysis during a significant solar storm last year. The U.S. also hosted a simulated space weather event to evaluate response plans.
In closing, Conole congratulated the Expert Group on Space Weather for its recommendations aimed at ensuring all members are aligned with the implementation of the LTS Guidelines for Space Weather.