Space Weather Forecast System Estimated To Cost $2 Billion

A new space weather forecast system could cost $1 billion to $2 billion to build and take more than 10 years to complete, according to a group of space scientists who spoke on Wednesday with the House Space, Science, and Technology Committee.

The proposed solution would include building a new forecasting system and replacing the Advanced Composition Explorer satellite. The ACE is used to collect data about geomagnetic storm warnings issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The ACE was meant to operate for two-years but instead has been used for the last 15.

NASA plans to replace the system with the Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite, which was placed in storage in 2001. DSCOVR will launch in 2014 but also has a two-year design life.

According to Mashable:

“Charles Gay, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, testified that research missions the agency’s multisatellite Heliophysics Explorer program conducted can be adapted to provide solar, solar wind and near-Earth observations essential for NOAA’s space weather forecasting mission. He added NASA has agreed to work with the European Space Agency on a Solar Orbiter Collaboration project that will use a new satellite slated for launch in 2017 to help where solar winds, plasma and magnetic fields originate in the sun’s corona.”

Scientists testified that solar wind measurements are specifically of importance as the sun heads into its next solar maximum.

High levels of plasma bursts from Earth’s sun is known to disrupt power grids, GPS, and other electrical systems.

The Committee overseeing the project hopes to cut costs through multiagency cooperation between NOAA, NASA, the Defense Department, and the National Science Foundation.

The project will be overseen by various agencies to ensure its maximum return on every dollar.