Jasper S. Halekas - University of Iowa

My research focuses on the interaction between the solar wind and the planets and moons in our solar system. I design and build spaceflight instruments to make high-fidelity charged particle measurements, and use them to understand the fascinating plasma physics that occurs in the interplanetary medium and the environments near the various bodies of our solar system. My research spans the intersection between planetary science and pure space plasma physics, touching on planetary geology and atmospheres, magnetic reconnection, shocks, plasma sheaths, and plasma waves and turbulence. A unifying theme of my work is the use of charged particle measurements to remotely infer plasma processes around planetary bodies. I love my work, because each new project brings a new challenge - and I love to solve puzzles.

My group is still growing, and student opportunities are currently available in both instrument development and data analysis.

I currently spend my time as:

• Instrument lead for the Analyzer for Cusp Electrons (ACE) on the TRACERS mission, a two-spacecraft Small Explorer mission that will study the coupling between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere.
• Instrument lead for the Solar Wind Ion Analyzer (SWIA) for the MAVEN mission that launched November 2013 and arrived at Mars on September 21 2014, designed to study how Mars went from being a wet planet to a barren wasteland. I provide synthesized MAVEN upstream driver data for use by the scientific community.
• Instrument scientist for the Solar Probe Analyzer (SPAN) electron sensors for the SWEAP suite on the Parker Solar Probe mission, which is diving into the atmosphere of the Sun to understand the origin of the solar wind.
• Co-Investigator (formerly Deputy Principal Investigator) for the two-probe ARTEMIS mission, studying the Moon's interaction with space environment.
• Lead plasma investigator on the LEADER Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute team.
• Co-Investigator on the Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment (LuSEE), which will be carried on a commercial lander and will comprehensively measure electromagnetic fields from the lunar surface in order to study the near surface electric field, the lunar ionosphere, lunar surface impactors and ejecta, and charged dust, and to perform low frequency radio astronomy.
• Instrument scientist on HelioSwarm, a Medium-Class Explorer mission currently in Phase A, designed to study plasma turbulence in the solar wind using a swarm of small spacecraft that provide multi-point measurements of solar wind particles and fields.
• Deputy Principal Investigator for the Lunar Vertex mission, a landed mission to measure the plasma, magnetic field, and surface characteristics in a lunar magnetic anomaly.

Latest News

• NASA story on our recent work on "The Day the Solar Wind Disappeared at Mars"
• Space.Com article on the disappearing solar wind event.
• Washington Post article on disappearing solar wind events at Mars and Earth.
• Iowa Now article on a recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal.
• Another citation by Geophysical Research Letters for excellence in refereeing.
• Iowa Now article on the selection of the TRACERS mission.

Older News

• National Geographic article on our recent study of the tenuous lunar ionosphere.
• The Gazette article on the Parker Solar Probe mission.
• Iowa Now article on the Parker Solar Probe mission - with a shout out to Dan McGinnis
• Editor's Highlight for a recent study of the Mars-solar wind interaction in Eos.
• Iowa Now article on lunar limb shock research - with a shout out to Stephanie Howard.
• Iowa Now article on MAVEN measurements of hydrogen escape from Mars.
• NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal - CLAS News Article.
• Iowa Research Minute video.
• Citation by Geophysical Research Letters for excellence in refereeing.
• NY Times article on MAVEN first results.
• YouTube video of NASA Science Update on MAVEN first results.
• Iowa Now article on MAVEN first results.
• Sky and Telescope article on MAVEN first results.
• Iowa Now article on MAVEN/SWIA.
• The Gazette article on MAVEN/SWIA.
• Sky and Telescope article on MAVEN/SWIA observations of a new ion population.
• EOS article on MAVEN/SWIA observations of new ion population.
• NASA press release on early MAVEN results, including SWIA observations.
• Iowa Public Radio River to River program with Dr. Halekas and Steve Kawaler.

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