Strategic Theme

Space Physics is embarking on a new voyage of discovery and exploration to characterize our space environment.

Space physics is the study of the heliosphere (the sphere of influence of the Sun) as one system. It seeks to explore and understand the dynamics of the Sun and its interactions with the Earth and other planetary bodies and with the interstellar medium.

NASA contributes to the creation of new scientific knowledge by exploring the Solar System and the Universe beyond and by studying the space environment and its effects on biological and physical processes... The purpose of the Scientific Research Enterprise is to seek answers to fundamental questions, such as:

How are the conditions for life on Earth maintained ? How does the solar output vary? How does the Earth's magnetic field trap radiation and protect the planet?... What knowledge from space can improve the quality of life on Earth?...

NASA Strategic Plan, 1994

Solar Connections table of contents

Click here for a larger, JPEG representation of the figure at the top of the page.

Solar Connections: A Science Initiative for NASA Space Physics

Manager: William J. Wagner / NASA Headquarters / Code SS
Editor: Joe Gurman
[e-mail address: gurman<at>gsfc<dot>nasa<gov>]
+1 301 286-4767

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Solar Physics Branch / Code 612.1
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Last revised 19 December, 1994 - J.B. Gurman