NASA FOXSI5 sounding rocket experiment

In this talk, Milo Buitrago-Casas (UC Berkeley) will delve into the groundbreaking FOXSI mission, which represents a new era in solar flare observations. FOXSI utilizes high-energy X-ray imaging to capture the dynamic behavior of solar flares, providing unprecedented insights into the physics driving these powerful eruptions. The discussion will cover the mission’s latest achievements and its role in advancing our understanding of solar phenomena.

Milo will also highlight the newly enhanced solar flare campaign capabilities developed by NASA LCAS. These capabilities are designed to integrate multi-wavelength observations and coordinated data analysis, offering a more comprehensive view of solar flare dynamics. This segment of the talk will illustrate how these advancements are paving the way for more accurate forecasting and improved space weather predictions.

Additionally, Milo will present the PADRE CubeSat, an exciting project set to launch aboard SpaceX in June. The PADRE mission is focused on measuring the polarization and directivity of X-rays emitted during large solar flares, which could dramatically improve our understanding of particle acceleration during these eruptive events.

The talk will also describe current ideas for the NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) that is expected to launch in the 2040s. HWO will also study the Universe in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light with far more sensitivity and detail than Hubble, answering questions about how galaxies grow and how stars impact their neighborhoods and ultimately die. The presentation will conclude by explaining how HWO will observe temperate Earth-sized planets around Sun-like stars to search for signs of life to address the question “Are we alone?”

Attend in person or online via Facebook.