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UID:seminar-14376@epss.ucla.edu
DTSTAMP:20260411T025741Z
DTSTART:20260123T033000Z
DTEND:20260123T043000Z
SUMMARY:Science Traceability Matrix (STM): my journey from Parker Solar Probe (PSP) to Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT)
LOCATION:3853 Slichter Hall
DESCRIPTION:Date: 2026-01-23 00:00:00

Time: 3:30–4:30 PM

Location: 3853 Slichter Hall

Presented By:
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti - University of Michigan

Abstract:


NASA science missions are often complex systems of systems\, involving various stakeholders\, including the United States’ Congress. To ensure a clear and concise communication of expectations\, requirements\, and constraints\, NASA has adopted the Science Traceability Matrix (STM). STM provides a logical flow from the decadal survey to science goals and objectives\, mission and instrument requirements\, and data products. STM serves as a summary of what science will be achieved and how it will be achieved\, with a clear definition of what mission success will look like. In this seminar\, I will present the STM from the Parker Solar Probe (PSP)\, including requirements relating to the plasma instrument for which I am a co-investigator. I will describe how our team used the STM to map the mission’s top-level requirements to mission success criteria and helped to eliminate any single point of failure that could end the mission prematurely. I will then present my own research on magnetic switchbacks in the PSP magnetic and plasma observations and their role in solar wind acceleration and heating. I will conclude the seminar by discussing how my research on the temporal evolution of switchbacks in the solar wind led to a new STM\, and helped to chart a multidisciplinary path to designing a ground-breaking science mission concept\, titled Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT)\, with the potential to improve space weather forecasting lead times by up to 40%.
URL:https://epss.ucla.edu/space-weather-investigation-frontier-swift/
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