NASA is set to launch the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on February 27 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The four-satellite constellation will study the solar wind in three dimensions, bridging the gap between solar physics and space weather research.
The mission aims to connect two major fields of heliophysics: solar physics and solar wind physics, to better understand how the Sun’s corona transforms into the solar wind. By tracking solar activity across a billion-fold range of scales, from individual particles to large-scale solar storms, scientists hope to improve space weather forecasting and uncover unexpected astronomical discoveries.
PUNCH will create a continuous, high-definition 3D map of the heliosphere using polarimetry, allowing for accurate measurement of scattered sunlight from solar wind particles. This technique is a significant leap forward from previous missions that could only observe the Sun in two-dimensional projections.
One exciting aspect of PUNCH is its ability to create an artificial solar eclipse, enabling continuous high-definition imaging of the corona as it extends into space. This will allow scientists to track solar storms in real-time, improving our ability to predict space weather events that can impact satellites, astronauts, and power grids on Earth.
The mission has the potential to revolutionize space weather forecasting by providing the first-ever continuous 3D observations of the solar wind. By tracking space weather events in three dimensions routinely across the solar system, scientists can better understand how the Sun’s influence extends throughout the solar system.
With PUNCH, NASA is taking a bold step toward unifying solar physics and space weather research, which could lead to new breakthroughs in astrophysics and planetary science. The mission will not only help us understand how the Sun shapes the space environment but also unlock secrets of the Sun that have remained hidden for centuries.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/02/nasas-punch-mission-capture-the-solar-wind