Research
Heliolab: A mission control for the Sun
Heliolab 2026 focuses on providing the situational awareness necessary for humanity’s return to the Moon and space exploration in general. The Sun is not just an object of study but the primary driver of the operating environment in which Earth and humankind’s aspirations reside. Understanding and decision making within this context is vital for mission success.
Challenges that leverage the latest advances in heliophysics foundation model developments to transition from qualitative heuristics to quantitative predictors of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares. Challenges in this context will use new foundation models like Surya and SDO-FM and also understand where there are gaps in representation.
Ensuring safe operations and preparedness, this AI stack will integrate virtual dosimeters and Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) forecasting to quantify radiation environments for mission trajectories and lunar surface activities, supporting long-term mission design.
The goal is to move beyond proof-of-concept to operational readiness, using the modeling stack with casual frames and an agentic orchestration system for spaceflight in real-time to protect astronauts and electronics.