GSST Support

Request for Support: Challenges Faced by the GSST Mission Proposal

Dear Colleagues,

As you probably already know, until last Thursday (September 21, 2023), our proposal for the Galileo Solar Space Telescope Mission (GSST) was progressing within the Brazilian Space Agency’s (AEB) Procedure for Selection and Adoption of Space Missions (ProSAME). However, INPE’s Director effectively shut down our proposal without consulting us or any advisory committee.

This event comes as a great surprise to all of us at INPE’s Heliophysics and Planetary Sciences Division, as the GSST Mission was progressing in the AEB’s ProSAME workflow, and the Head of the Coordination for Engineering and Space Sciences asked us to contact possible partners that could be interested in collaborating in the mission.

Let’s put this in context.

Last year, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) introduced a new procedure for the selection and adoption of space missions. AEB uses this systematic approach to define and select space missions within the Brazilian National Space Activities Program (PNAE) 2022-2031 framework. Proposals go through several phases, starting with the Admission Phase, where initial proposals are aggregated and assessed for technical feasibility and adherence to PNAE 2022-2031. The list of missions in the Admission Phase can be found here. Note that the GSST Mission is already listed and waiting for the homologation. Only after successful feasibility studies does AEB officially adopt the mission and allocate the budget, moving the mission to the Execution Phase, where AEB ensures its completion.

On May 19, 2023, I submitted the documents to the Head of the Division of Heliophysics, Planetary Sciences, and Aeronomy. The documents followed INPE’s internal flow to INPE’s director. On September 21, 2023, INPE’s Director sent an official letter (attached) to the President of the Brazilian Space Agency, Marco Antonio Chamon, forwarding for AEB’s consideration the proposal for the GSST Mission. However, he included a sentence that effectively blocked our proposal from progressing in AEB’s flow and the funding for development for several years. He stated: “… having this telescope operated satisfactorily at the Pico dos Dias Observatory for a period not less than 2 (two) uninterrupted years, only then, I kindly ask to consider the adoption of this mission for the portfolio of missions of this Brazilian Space Agency.”. See the document here.

He was referring to the proof-of-concept spectropolarimeter that we developed and are installing in a ground observatory operated by the National Astrophysics Laboratory (LNA). We don’t need to explain that the operational conditions of a ground-based instrument for observations in the visible are entirely different from operations in space in visible and ultraviolet. The space observatory would also carry instruments to measure solar irradiance and in situ instruments for plasma and magnetic field observations.

We ask the international research community to manifest its support to the GSST Mission.

Objectives:
• To express that the decision of the INPE’s Director is not based on scientific and technical requirements to observe the sun employing space-based platforms.
• To confirm the relevance of GSST for solar physics and
• To request that The GSST Mission follow the ProSAME workflow as planned.

The manifestations from the community will be handed to the Brazilian State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, and the President of the Brazilian Space Agency, Marco Chamon. Please maintain an objective tone in your remarks and refrain from using abusive or disrespectful language.

Thank you very much in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Luis Vieira

Dr. Luis Eduardo Antunes Vieira

National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

Av. Dos Astronautas, 1758

Jd. Granja - CEP: 12227-010

São José dos Campos - SP - Brasil

http://www.inpe.br

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Important Deadlines:
Ideally, the manifestations should be sent by October 13, 2023, as the AEB’s committee is scheduled to convene to approve the Space Missions for the subsequent phase in the upcoming weeks.

Address:

Please refrain from sending it directly to the ministries or ministers. We will compile all letters received by either of the deadlines and ensure they are forwarded to the minister and the President of the space agency. Please send the letters to the following email address: gsst.mission@gmail.com or luis.vieira@inpe.br.

Brazilian Ministry of Science, Tecnology and Inovation
State Ministry
Mrs. Luciana Santos
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco E
Zona Cívico-Administrativa.
Brasília, DF.

Brazilian Space Agency
President
Mr. Marco Antonio Chamon
Setor Policial, Área 5 Quadra 3 BL A, SHCS,
Brasília, DF

Addition information:
Preliminary Mission Study Report.