NASA’s PUNCH mission has officially begun operation, with four satellites working together to monitor the Sun’s corona and solar wind in unprecedented 3D detail. The mission aims to capture stunning images of how the Sun’s outer atmosphere transforms into solar wind, a stream of charged particles that shape space weather.
Launched on March 11, PUNCH flew alongside NASA’s SPHEREx telescope as part of two major missions studying cosmic origins. The four satellites form a “virtual telescope,” creating continuous images of solar wind and explosive solar events.
PUNCH will release all data publicly, sharing solar images and findings via NASA’s Solar Data Analysis Center. By tracking coronal mass ejections, the mission could improve aurora forecasts and help mitigate power grid failures and GPS disruptions.
The PUNCH mission is crucial for modern life, as solar storms impact Earth’s tech, from communications to navigation. Led by Southwest Research Institute, the mission blends science, engineering, and global collaboration to unlock solar mysteries.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/a-new-eye-on-the-sun-nasas-punch-to-track-solar-storms-in-stunning-3d-216765-14-03-2025