Why in the News?

NASA is set to launch the Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on February 28, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

About the PUNCH Mission

• PUNCH Mission is a groundbreaking solar mission designed to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind using advanced imaging techniques.
• It will consist of 4 small satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for an expected two-year mission.
• Unlike previous missions, PUNCH will use polarimetry (measurement of polarized light) to observe solar phenomena in 3D.
• It allows scientists to study the origin and evolution of solar winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), both of which impact space weather and Earth’s technological systems.

• Focus Areas of the PUNCH Mission:

• • Study how the Sun’s outer corona transforms into the solar wind.
  • Observe how CMEs are formed, gain speed, and travel through space.
  • Improve space weather forecasting to protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids.
  • Provide real-time data to help scientists predict solar storms and geomagnetic disturbances.
  • Contribute to NASA’s Artemis program by ensuring safe deep-space exploration.

Key Features of the PUNCH Mission:

• 4 microsatellite weighs 64 kg each and works together to capture a wide-field view of the Sun’s corona.
• Advanced Imaging Instruments:
  • Narrow Field Imager (NFI):  Captures high-resolution images of the inner corona.
  • Wide Field Imagers (WFIs):  Observe solar wind and CMEs across interplanetary space.
  • STEAM (X-ray spectrometer): Monitors coronal heating and solar flares.
• Provides real-time data every four minutes.
• Offers a 90° field of view, covering the Sun’s outer atmosphere and heliosphere.
• Helps mitigate the effects of solar storms on Earth’s communication systems.
• Aids in protecting astronauts and satellites from harmful solar radiation.

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