AUTHOR=Borovsky Joseph E. , Delzanno Gian Luca TITLE=Active Experiments in Space: The Future JOURNAL=Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences VOLUME=6 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2019.00031 DOI=10.3389/fspas.2019.00031 ISSN=2296-987X ABSTRACT=

Planned active space experiments and ideas for future active space experiments are reviewed. Three active experiments being readied are DSX (Demonstration and Space eXperiments), SMART (Space Measurement of Rocket-released Turbulence), and BeamPIE (Beam Plasma Interaction Experiment). Ideas for future experiments include relativistic-electron-beam experiments for magnetic-field-line tracing, relativistic-electron-beam experiments to probe the middle atmosphere, plasma-wave launching using superparamagnetic-nanoparticle amplification of magnetic fields, the heavy-ion mass loading of collisionless magnetic-field-line reconnection, the use of electrostatically charged tethers to pitch-angle scatter radiation-belt particles, cold plasma releases to modify magnetospheric plasma physics, and neutral-gas releases to enhance neutral-particle imaging of the magnetosphere. Technologies that are being developed to enable future space active experiments are reviewed: this includes the development of compact relativistic accelerators, superparamagnetic particle amplified antennae, CubeSats, and a new understanding of how to control dynamic spacecraft charging. New capabilities to use laboratory facilities to design space active experiments as well as new computer-simulation capabilities to design and understand space active experiments are reviewed.