Current Gaps in Space Weather Observations and a Vision for Future Improvements

We begin this presentation with a quick synopsis of the growing need and significance of space weather observations and applications in our increasingly technological world. Next, we describe and summarize the effort and main results of the 2020-2021 NASA Space Weather Science and Applications Observational Gap Analysis. In particular, we highlight the following major outstanding gaps in the current state of space weather observations: full solar coverage; multipoint solar wind observatories for advanced monitoring (sunward of L1) and for accurate knowledge of geoeffectiveness (earthward of L1); comprehensive ionospheric and thermospheric observatory networks; comprehensive radiation environment monitoring throughout cis-lunar space and in Earth's atmosphere. We discuss the importance of each of these gaps and the significant improvements to space weather operations and applications that would result from properly filling them with future observatories. Furthermore, we stress the critical need for a dedicated and comprehensive space weather communications protocol and network of space-based relays and ground-based transceivers, enabling continuous, low-latency telemetry from space weather observatories throughout geospace and the heliosphere. We finish the presentation with a summary and description of a vision for an expanded, orchestrated network of systems for an effective and improved national space weather enterprise.