SBIR-STTR Award

Enhancement of the Geomagnetic Cutoff Models inside SIRE2
Award last edited on: 1/16/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA : MSFC
Total Award Amount
$149,990
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
S14.01
Principal Investigator
Zachary Robinson

Company Information

Fifth Gait Technologies (AKA: 5TH GAIT)

5531 Somerset Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
   (805) 964-1496
   kathy@5thgait.com
   www.5thgait.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 24
County: Santa Barbara

Phase I

Contract Number: 80NSSC22PB025
Start Date: 7/22/2022    Completed: 1/25/2023
Phase I year
2022
Phase I Amount
$149,990
The enhancement of the geomagnetic cutoff models inside of the Space Ionizing Radiation Environments and Effects (SIRE2) tool will evaluate and expand on our geomagnetic cutoff modeling as an extension of our previous work. This proposal will also adapt the current geomagnetic cutoff modeling software to be driven by the Dst index rather than the Kp index to better reflect the ring current effects. These improved geomagnetic cutoff modeling timelines will be compared to geomagnetic cutoff measurements for a selected Solar Particle Event (SPE). This proposal is submitted to the Space Weather Research-to-Operations/Operations-to-Research (R2O/O2R) Technology Development subtopic and will provide key research that can be used to improve future geomagnetic cutoff models. Specifically, this research can be included in the next iteration of the Smart Shea model (circa 2025) to enhance the geomagnetic cutoff modeling of the SIRE2 toolkit. This will provide mission designers, planners, and mission operators with advanced geomagnetic cutoff modeling techniques. Once incorporated into a tool like SIRE2, these advancements will provide improved modeling of the energetic particle environment within the Earth’s magnetosphere. This Phase I proposal will result in demonstrations that illustrate the improvements that can be made to the geomagnetic cutoff models by driving the model by the Dst index rather than the Kp Index and using finer Dst levels to create the cutoff grids. In addition, these improvements of the geomagnetic cutoff modeling timeliness will be compared to geomagnetic cutoff measurements for a selected SPE to illustrate the improvements in these techniques. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): When the goals of this Phase I effort are complete, NASA will have a better understanding of improvements that can be made to the current geomagnetic cutoff models. These improvements will provide better modeling capabilities of the energetic particle environment inside of the Earth’s magnetosphere. The current NASA programs, projects, or missions that could greatly benefit from this Phase I effort are any satellites or missions that operate inside the Earth’s magnetosphere, including the International Space Station, Space Launch System, etc. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin can utilize this Phase I/II work to support future space adventure plans. Enhanced geomagnetic cutoff models would provide these companies with more accurate particle environments. There are also numerous DoD and DoE programs that exclusively operate within the Earth’s magnetosphere and would benefit from enhanced geomagnetic cutoff models. Duration: 6

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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