NASA's PUNCH mission unveils Sun's corona in groundbreaking detail
NASA has launched the new PUNCH mission, which aims to deliver the first images of the outer atmosphere of the Sun and the surrounding solar system.
NASA has successfully launched the PUNCH mission, designed to study the Sun's outer atmosphere and its impact on space. The four satellites that comprise this mission have already begun capturing the initial images to examine the impact of the star's corona on space weather.
A new look at the Sun's corona
The PUNCH mission, or Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, has completed the phase of satellite deployment. In mid-April, the instruments were activated to start recording the first data. These images reveal how the Sun's corona extends and influences the solar system, which is essential for understanding space weather.
According to SciTech Daily, during the deployment phase, scientists calibrate the instruments to filter out 99% of sunlight, allowing them to track delicate streams of solar matter. This enhances understanding of how the Sun's corona forms and develops solar winds, which can have an impact on Earth.
Three-dimensional observations
PUNCH will provide comprehensive, three-dimensional data regarding the inner solar system and the Sun's corona. Thanks to this mission, it will be possible to study how cosmic phenomena, such as coronal mass ejections, form and evolve. These events can pose a threat to satellites and astronauts.
The PUNCH mission is conducted by the Southwest Research Institute based in San Antonio, and satellite operations are carried out in Boulder, Colorado. The project is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
