News & Events/cspar/news-and-events2025-05-23T11:34:15-05:00UAHwebmaster@uah.eduJoomla! - Open Source Content ManagementUAH development of SWEAP instruments helps Parker Solar Probe win 2024 Collier Trophy2025-04-01T08:17:28-05:002025-04-01T08:17:28-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/19368-uah-development-sweap-instruments-helps-parker-solar-probe-win-2024-collier-trophyRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR), holding a model of the Parker Solar Probe and SWEAP instrument suite created by Blake Parker"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) instrument suite developed by researchers at The Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 草榴社区 (UAH) and the Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA鈥檚 Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has helped the PSP earn the coveted 2024 Robert J. Collier Trophy.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR), holding a model of the Parker Solar Probe and SWEAP instrument suite created by Blake Parker"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) instrument suite developed by researchers at The Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 草榴社区 (UAH) and the Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA鈥檚 Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has helped the PSP earn the coveted 2024 Robert J. Collier Trophy.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->UAH researcher says interaction of kinetic waves and suprathermal particles could be key to unlocking biggest mystery in heliophysics2025-02-04T08:17:28-06:002025-02-04T08:17:28-06:00/cspar/news-and-events/19255-uah-researcher-says-interaction-of-kinetic-waves-and-suprathermal-particles-could-be-key-to-unlocking-biggest-mystery-in-heliophysicsRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="Conceptual rendering shows NASA's Parker Solar Probe about to enter the solar corona, the outermost layer of plasma, or ionized gas"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Speakers at the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast, presented by 草榴社区 (UAH), offered messages of economic innovation, growth and cooperation to the capacity audience.</p>
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<p><img src="/" alt="Conceptual rendering shows NASA's Parker Solar Probe about to enter the solar corona, the outermost layer of plasma, or ionized gas"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Speakers at the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast, presented by 草榴社区 (UAH), offered messages of economic innovation, growth and cooperation to the capacity audience.</p>
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UAH plasma researcher follows up first-of-its-kind study of Alfv茅n waves with groundbreaking new findings, possibly key to mystery of solar corona heating2024-11-13T08:17:28-06:002024-11-13T08:17:28-06:00/cspar/news-and-events/19094-uah-plasma-researcher-follows-up-first-of-its-kind-study-of-alfven-waves-groundbreaking-of-solar-corona-heatingRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="Alfv茅n waves"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Syed Ayaz, a researcher at 草榴社区 (UAH), has published a paper in Scientific Reports that builds on an earlier first-of-its-kind study that examined kinetic Alfv茅n waves.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="Alfv茅n waves"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Syed Ayaz, a researcher at 草榴社区 (UAH), has published a paper in Scientific Reports that builds on an earlier first-of-its-kind study that examined kinetic Alfv茅n waves.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->National Space Club taps UAH Eminent Scholar Dr. Gary Zank to receive 2024 Distinguished Science Award2024-11-05T08:17:28-06:002024-11-05T08:17:28-06:00/cspar/news-and-events/19074-national-space-club-taps-uah-eminent-scholar-dr-gary-zank-to-receive-2024-distinguished-science-awardRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR)."></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The National Space Club (NSC), Huntsville Chapter, has selected Dr. Gary Zank at 草榴社区 (UAH) to receive the 2024 Distinguished Science Award.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR)."></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The National Space Club (NSC), Huntsville Chapter, has selected Dr. Gary Zank at 草榴社区 (UAH) to receive the 2024 Distinguished Science Award.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->New Huntsville conference will explore opportunities in plasma science and engineering2024-10-25T08:17:28-05:002024-10-25T08:17:28-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/19054-new-huntsville-conference-will-explore-opportunities-in-plasma-science-and-engineeringJim Steele<p><img src="/" alt="AIAPC"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The first Annual International Alabama Plasma Physics Conference (AIAPC), which is directly connected to statewide efforts to establish plasma science and engineering (PSE) as a major Alabama industry, is coming to Huntsville Oct. 28-30.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="AIAPC"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>The first Annual International Alabama Plasma Physics Conference (AIAPC), which is directly connected to statewide efforts to establish plasma science and engineering (PSE) as a major Alabama industry, is coming to Huntsville Oct. 28-30.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->FTPP program led by UAH receives Innovator Award for Program of the Year from 256Today2024-10-18T08:17:28-05:002024-10-18T08:17:28-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/19019-ftpp-program-led-by-uah-receives-innovator-award-for-program-of-the-year-from-256todayJim Steele<p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, FTPP principal investigator and director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP), a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program led by 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has been awarded Program of the Year as part of the 2024 256Today.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Gary Zank, FTPP principal investigator and director of the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP), a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program led by 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has been awarded Program of the Year as part of the 2024 256Today.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->UAH researcher wins $608k SHINE grant to study Joule heating in the sun鈥檚 atmosphere for clues to the biggest mystery in heliophysics2024-09-18T07:53:07-05:002024-09-18T07:53:07-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/18934-uah-researcher-wins-608k-shine-grant-to-study-joule-heating-in-the-sun-s-atmosphere-for-clues-to-the-biggest-mystery-in-heliophysicsRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Mehmet Sarp Yalim, a research scientist 1 in the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR). "></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Dr. Mehmet Sarp Yalim, a research scientist in the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has won a $608,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Solar, Heliospheric, and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE) grant to study a process known as Joule, or Cowling, heating.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="Dr. Mehmet Sarp Yalim, a research scientist 1 in the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR). "></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Dr. Mehmet Sarp Yalim, a research scientist in the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has won a $608,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Solar, Heliospheric, and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE) grant to study a process known as Joule, or Cowling, heating.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->CSPAR gains two scale models of spacecraft crucial to its work, courtesy of UAH alumnus2024-09-12T07:53:07-05:002024-09-12T07:53:07-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/18923-cspar-gains-two-scale-models-of-spacecraft-crucial-to-its-work-courtesy-of-uah-alumnusJim Steele<p><img src="/" alt="Former 草榴社区 and model maker (right) Blake Parker presents models of the Voyager and Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft to (left) Dr. Gary Zank, director of the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Two scale models of spacecraft that provide research data to 草榴社区 (UAH) Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) have joined a Parker Solar Probe model on prominent display at CSPAR offices in Cramer Research Hall, thanks to a UAH alumnus who caught the modeling bug at age 4.</p>
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<p><img src="/" alt="Former 草榴社区 and model maker (right) Blake Parker presents models of the Voyager and Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft to (left) Dr. Gary Zank, director of the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research"></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Two scale models of spacecraft that provide research data to 草榴社区 (UAH) Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) have joined a Parker Solar Probe model on prominent display at CSPAR offices in Cramer Research Hall, thanks to a UAH alumnus who caught the modeling bug at age 4.</p>
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EXCLUSIVE: Former 草榴社区 returns for inspirational donation2024-09-12T12:30:38-05:002024-09-12T12:30:38-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/18922-exclusive-former-uah-student-returns-for-inspirational-donation<p><img src="//images/research/cspar/whnt_sept24_new.png" alt="" width="1440" height="810" loading="lazy"></p><p>HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (<a href="http://whnt.com/" data-type="link" data-id="WHNT.com">WHNT</a>) 鈥 Blake Parker, a NASA engineer returned Wednesday to the campus where his space exploration dreams began to provide a special gift for UAH鈥檚 Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR).</p>
<p><img src="/images/research/cspar/cropped-voyager_and_ibex_models.png" alt="voyager and ibex models" class="left-66 left-50"></p>
<p>The 2013 UAH graduate hand-made two spacecraft models with just a few materials, one being the Interstellar Boundary Explorer or IBEX and the Voyager which provided scientists with vital knowledge about our solar system.</p>
<p>Parker鈥檚 donation is much more than research products that鈥檒l be put on display for students. It鈥檚 more about showing them they too can dream big while aiming for the stars in an inspirational node by someone who started in the same CSPAR program current 草榴社区s are participating in.</p>
<p>鈥淚t鈥檚 great having an actual physical representation of the thing you鈥檙e working on and being able to get the idea like what does this thing actually look like,鈥 Parker said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l give them an idea of what they鈥檙e working toward and being like this is that instrument and where it鈥檚 related to the others on the actual spacecraft itself.鈥</p>
<p>UAH鈥檚 CSPAR program Director Gary Zank says it means the world to see former students like Parker coming back to show students they too are able.</p>
<p>鈥淭he time, the effort that he spends building these kind of spacecrafts he probably does realize it but for students and even for people like me who spent their lifetime working on these kinds of missions, having something tangible to attach your hat to your mental vision is tremendously beneficial,鈥 Zank said. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank Blake for making all of that possible with these models.鈥</p>
<p>Life as an engineer has provided Parker with a platform to live out his dream and now he鈥檚 showing others they too can have a career in space exploration that has no limits.</p>
<p>鈥淚t feels really great just getting to show where the possibilities can go, it鈥檚 possible if you work hard enough, then you can make it,鈥 Parker told News 19.</p>
<p>Parker鈥檚 scale model spacecraft joins another model spacecraft he donated in 2020 that鈥檚 now on display at UAH鈥檚 Cramer Research Hall.</p>
<p><em>Article: Courtesy of <a href="https://whnt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WHNT</a>.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://whnt.com/news/huntsville/exclusive-former-uah-student-returns-for-inspirational-donation/" target="_blank">Read the full story on WHNT News</a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://redir1.whnt.com/nxs-video-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" target="_blank">Watch the WHNT video</a>.</p><p><img src="//images/research/cspar/whnt_sept24_new.png" alt="" width="1440" height="810" loading="lazy"></p><p>HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (<a href="http://whnt.com/" data-type="link" data-id="WHNT.com">WHNT</a>) 鈥 Blake Parker, a NASA engineer returned Wednesday to the campus where his space exploration dreams began to provide a special gift for UAH鈥檚 Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR).</p>
<p><img src="/images/research/cspar/cropped-voyager_and_ibex_models.png" alt="voyager and ibex models" class="left-66 left-50"></p>
<p>The 2013 UAH graduate hand-made two spacecraft models with just a few materials, one being the Interstellar Boundary Explorer or IBEX and the Voyager which provided scientists with vital knowledge about our solar system.</p>
<p>Parker鈥檚 donation is much more than research products that鈥檒l be put on display for students. It鈥檚 more about showing them they too can dream big while aiming for the stars in an inspirational node by someone who started in the same CSPAR program current 草榴社区s are participating in.</p>
<p>鈥淚t鈥檚 great having an actual physical representation of the thing you鈥檙e working on and being able to get the idea like what does this thing actually look like,鈥 Parker said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l give them an idea of what they鈥檙e working toward and being like this is that instrument and where it鈥檚 related to the others on the actual spacecraft itself.鈥</p>
<p>UAH鈥檚 CSPAR program Director Gary Zank says it means the world to see former students like Parker coming back to show students they too are able.</p>
<p>鈥淭he time, the effort that he spends building these kind of spacecrafts he probably does realize it but for students and even for people like me who spent their lifetime working on these kinds of missions, having something tangible to attach your hat to your mental vision is tremendously beneficial,鈥 Zank said. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank Blake for making all of that possible with these models.鈥</p>
<p>Life as an engineer has provided Parker with a platform to live out his dream and now he鈥檚 showing others they too can have a career in space exploration that has no limits.</p>
<p>鈥淚t feels really great just getting to show where the possibilities can go, it鈥檚 possible if you work hard enough, then you can make it,鈥 Parker told News 19.</p>
<p>Parker鈥檚 scale model spacecraft joins another model spacecraft he donated in 2020 that鈥檚 now on display at UAH鈥檚 Cramer Research Hall.</p>
<p><em>Article: Courtesy of <a href="https://whnt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WHNT</a>.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://whnt.com/news/huntsville/exclusive-former-uah-student-returns-for-inspirational-donation/" target="_blank">Read the full story on WHNT News</a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://redir1.whnt.com/nxs-video-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" target="_blank">Watch the WHNT video</a>.</p>UAH researcher wins NASA FINESST scholarship to study connection between solar wind turbulence and energetic particles 2024-08-30T07:53:07-05:002024-08-30T07:53:07-05:00/cspar/news-and-events/18894-uah-researcher-wins-nasa-finesst-scholarship-to-study-connection-between-solar-wind-turbulence-and-energetic-particlesRuss Nelson<p><img src="/" alt="NASA鈥檚 Parker Solar Probe entered the solar atmosphere."></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Ashok Silwal, a doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has been chosen to receive a NASA Future Investigators in鈥疦ASA鈥疎arth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) scholarship to study stream interaction regions (SIRs) in the heliosphere.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text --><p><img src="/" alt="NASA鈥檚 Parker Solar Probe entered the solar atmosphere."></p><!-- BEGIN Intro Text -->
<p>Ashok Silwal, a doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, has been chosen to receive a NASA Future Investigators in鈥疦ASA鈥疎arth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) scholarship to study stream interaction regions (SIRs) in the heliosphere.</p>
<!-- // END Intro Text -->