Energy from the Sun impacts the near-Earth environment to create a myriad of hazards to systems operating in and through space, and even to ground based activities. Costly systems are at risk. Already space storms cause averaged annual losses estimated to exceed $100M. The space weather effects from the severe magnetic storms during this past solar maximum and the recent failure (1994) of the Anik satellite have emphasized the risk. The Solar-Terrestrial predictions Workshop, held in Ottawa in 1992, brought forecasters, customers and the physics community together in a common forum to present and discuss recent advancements. The proceedings of these meetings [ Solar-Terrestrial Predictions -- IV, 1993] provide a source book of effects and attempts to mitigate those effects.

The Space Environment Services Center (SESC) of the Space Environment Laboratory of NOAA in Boulder, CO, monitors the Sun and provides forecasts of solar and subsequent geomagnetic activity based on optical and radio diagnostic indicators and on indices derived from geomagnetic data. Complementing SESC's present index-based approach to forecasting of ``space weather'', and the resulting environmental hazards to space systems and ground based equipment, is a new suite of numerical space environment models currently being developed for Air Force Space Forecast Center (AFSFC). AFSFC, located in Colorado Springs, CO, became operational in 1992. SESC and AFSFC work together to provide information on the solar and near space environment to civilian and military customers. Advances in theory, modeling and measurements within the space physics and aeronomy scientific community, sponsored by US government agencies NSF, NASA, NOAA, DoD and DoE, have significantly increased our understanding of the near Earth environment to the point where a significant improvement in the operational forecast service for space environmental effects is feasible.

By coordinating the current resources of all these agencies, the nation has much of the infrastructure needed to develop, implement and augment a forecasting service that would provide accurate and timely predictions to a large and diversified customer base. Recognizing this, an interagency executive committee is investigating the possibility of enhancing our present capabilities in space weather through such a coordinated interagency effort. In concept, a National Space Weather Service (NSWS) could be formed, molded after the highly successful National Weather Service (NWS) [see Siscoe et al., 1994]. While no single sector within society could pay for the services of NWS, the total value of the services far exceeds their cost. Similar benefits are envisioned for NSWS.