Citizen science and distributed ionospheric measurements - a 10Xing opportunity

Discoveries such as STEVE and dune aurora illustrate the benefits of distributed heterogeneous data and a systems science approach. Interdisciplinary work is critical to achieving new breakthroughs but difficult within a highly constrained field. The citizen science methodology can provide experience in new forms of communication and collaboration, merging traditional and non-traditional data, and disruptive innovation at the gaps between sub-disciplines. Increasingly, there are multiple opportunities for citizen science to contribute to satellite missions. We discuss ways in which aurora citizen science could enhance Heliophysics missions based on new missions and demonstrated citizen science results in the field. This includes engaging the taxpayer in authentic science opportunities and creating more stewards of our small field. In addition there are multiple ways in which citizen science projects could engage with existing, in formulation, commercial, suborbital, or future missions that are important to consider for strategic planning within heliophysics.