A Solar Energetic Particle Mission (SEPM) for the S3C Great Observatory

The S3C Great Observatory concept is guided by a systems approach to understanding the heliosphere. A Solar Energetic Particle Mission (SEPM) can make valuable contributions to this Great Observatory in conjunction with upcoming Living with a Star (LWS) missions e.g. Solar Dynamics Observatory and Sentinels. SEPM can provide the remote sensing component to a program for better understanding how, when, and where solar energetic particles (SEPs) are produced. Such a coordinated approach will include coronagraphic UV spectroscopy and visible light polarimetery with SEPM, along with in situ particles and fields, X-ray and gamma-ray measurements from spacecraft close to the Sun (Inner Heliospheric Sentinels). While SEPM will use plasma diagnostics that are derived from the UVCS and LASCO coronagaraphs on SOHO, it will have an order of magnitude improvement in its capabilities.