Spaceship Earth: Probing the Solar Wind with Cosmic Rays

University Of Delaware, Newark DE

Investigators

Abstract

ATM0000315abs The investigators will continue operation of a neutron monitor network comprising nine stationary monitors and two transportable ship-borne monitors. A neutron monitor is an instrument that measures the number of high energy particles impacting Earth from space. These particles, mostly protons and helium nuclei, are called cosmic rays. Data from the neutron monitors will be employed together with data from spacecraft and other ground-based instruments in a broad range of investigations of cosmic rays in relation to the sun and solar wind. Specific science objectives include the study of acceleration and transport of solar energetic particles, the scattering of cosmic rays in the solar wind, and the use of cosmic rya observations for space weather forecasting. The project includes education and public outreach through the development of a web site and scientific collaboration with the U. S. Air Force Academy and Russian scientists. The distribution of stations around the globe, particularly in the polar regions, are essential for determining the distribution of cosmic rays in space. The use of this network to study cosmic rays inspires the name of the project: Spaceship Earth.