Overview

Detrimental space weather phenomena—such as geomagnetic and ionospheric storms, increased fluxes of charged particle radiation, and heightened atmospheric drag due to solar activity—pose an escalating threat to both space-based and terrestrial infrastructure, as well as to Moon to Mars exploration activities.

The First and the Second Small Satellites for Space Weather Research and Forecasting (SSWRF) workshops held respectively in Washington, DC (2017) and Laurel, MD (2022) addressing the unique opportunities and requirements of using small satellite platforms for space weather research.

The new international SSWRF workshop will be held in Washington, DC, March 8–11, 2027, at the Catholic University of America. The workshop welcomed a wide range of contributions related to the use of small satellites—including CubeSats—for space weather monitoring, research, data analysis, forecasting, and operational support.

SSWRF-3 will expand the scope of the previous two workshops to meet the current priorities of space science exploration by welcoming contributions on space weather applications of artificial intelligence and physics-informed machine learning tools, the efficiency aspects of space monitoring by small-size platforms, interplanetary space weather analysis supporting Moon to Mars initiatives, and other ongoing priorities.

Workshop Themes

Key topics and areas of focus for the SSWRF-3 workshop:

Small Satellite Observations

Small satellite observations relevant to space weather of interplanetary, solar, and geospace phenomena, including:

  • Space weather observations in support of human exploration of the Moon and Mars
  • Space weather observations to characterize LEO orbital drag conditions
  • Space weather observations to characterize ionospheric conditions impacting GNSS and communication
  • Small satellite constellations for monitoring large spatial domains
  • Physics-informed ML and AI tools in support of small satellite missions
Space Weather Effects & Applications
  • Investigations of space weather effects on small satellites: degraded capabilities, situational awareness, and satellite-debris collisions
  • Using small satellite data in global space weather simulation and forecasting frameworks
  • International coordination of small satellite activities

Scientific Organizing Committee

As of 10/06/2026

Chair: Vadim Uritsky (uritsky at cua .edu), CUA at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Co-Chair: Francesca Di Mare (francesca.dimare at nasa .gov), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Members:

  • Amir Caspi
  • Benjamin Cervantes
  • Francesca Di Mare
  • Georgia de Nolfo
  • Melanie Heil
  • Scott McIntosh
  • Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla
  • Michael Obland
  • Robert Robinson
  • Michelangelo Romano
  • James Spann
  • Vadim Uritsky
  • Alex Young

Local Organizing Committee

Mattie Anastopulos, Francesca Di Mare, Melissa Kane, Bob Robinson, and Vadim Uritsky

Important Information

Workshop Location

Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Workshop Date

March 8–11, 2027

Previous Workshops

SSWRF-1: Washington, DC (2017)
SSWRF-2: Laurel, MD (2022)