Updates on the Fundamentals of Impulsive Energy Release in the Corona Explorer (FIERCE) mission concept

The Fundamentals of Impulsive Energy Release in the Corona Explorer ( FIERCE ) Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) mission concept addresses the following science questions:

What are the physical origins of space-weather events?

How are particles accelerated at the Sun?

How is impulsively released energy transported throughout the solar atmosphere?

How is the solar corona heated?

FIERCE achieves its science objectives through co-optimized X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations by the following instruments:

FOXSI, a focusing hard X-ray spectroscopic imager that is able to capture the full range of emission in flares and CMEs (e.g., faint coronal sources near bright chromospheric sources)

THADIS, a high-resolution, fast-cadence EUV imager that will not saturate for even intense flares to follow dynamic changes in the configuration of plasma structures

STC, a soft X-ray spectrometer that provides detailed thermal and elemental composition diagnostics

If selected, FIERCE will launch in 2025, near the peak of the next solar cycle, which is also well timed with perihelia of Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter . We describe the status and latest updates of the mission concept since it was proposed to NASA last year. We also highlight the anticipated science return from co-observations with other observatories/instruments such as the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array (EOVSA) or the STIX instrument on Solar Orbiter .