McComas has made seminal contributions through innovative mission and instrumentation development that have benefited and supported the entire scientific community and led ground-breaking observations, analysis, and discovery of fundamental physics of the The bubble-like region surrounding the solar system inflated by the solar wind, shielding the solar system from interstellar radiation. and the very The interstellar material surrounding our solar system found directly outside of the heliosphere., the A stream of charged particles, mostly protons and electrons, that escapes into the Sun's outer atmosphere at high speeds and streams out into the solar system in all directions., and the Earth’s and other planetary magnetospheres.
By developing new instrumentation and missions, taking measurements with novel techniques and of previously unexplored regions of the solar system, and innovatively analyzing and publishing these observations, McComas has made numerous and wide-ranging discoveries that have significantly advanced our knowledge and understanding of the global structure and evolution of the solar wind and revolutionized our understanding of its interaction with the local interstellar medium (The local interstellar medium is the interstellar material surrounding our solar system found directly outside of the heliosphere.). He has led or leads the TWINS, A predecessor to IMAP, IBEX is studying how our heliosphere interacts with interstellar space. IBEX created the first maps showing the interactions at that border, and how they change over time., and IMAP NASA missions as well as space instruments for numerous other missions, including the Parker Solar Probe, the Advanced Composition Explorer. A spacecraft studying the heliosphere and cosmic rays. The specific components or “ingredients” that make up a substance or type of matter. explorer, the New Horizons mission to Pluto, Juno to Jupiter, and Cassini to Saturn.
McComas’ contributions include a deep commitment to international collaboration and dedication to mentoring and training the next generation of space physics explorers. The Arctowski Medal is presented every two years to recognize outstanding contributions to the study of solar physics and solar-terrestrial relationships. The Medal is now presented with an award of $100,000, plus $100,000, to support research in solar physics and solar-terrestrial relationships at an institution of the recipient's choice. The Arctowski Medal was established in 1958 by the bequest of Jane Arctowska in honor of her husband, Henryk Arctowski.
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