ABSTRACT
Heliophysics seeks to understand the variability of the sun, the response of the planets in our solar system, and the impacts of the variability and response on human society. “Helio” is taken from the personification of the sun in Greek mythology. At the center of our solar system is the sun, our star. This star is the dominant, time-varying source of energy, plasma, and energetic particles in our solar system. Solar physicists study the sun in three areas: the interior of the sun called helioseismology, the surface of the sun where activity is manifested as sunspots, and the outer halo of the sun called the corona. Heliophysics missions are prioritized and selected for development based upon the overall heliophysics science priorities. Workmanship problems must also be anticipated, because all the heliospheric missions are one-of-a-kind mission, and the goal of each mission’s science is to advance the last mission.
