Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Four compact PUNCH satellites arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base on January 18, undergoing final preparations for their shared SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with SPHEREx.
Credit : NASA
The PUNCH mission will launch alongside SPHEREx, a NASA space telescope, aiming to study the Sun’s corona and its evolution into solar wind from Vandenberg Space Force Base in late February.
Credit : NASA
Teams are conducting solar array tests and satellite checkouts before PUNCH and SPHEREx are encapsulated in Falcon 9’s payload fairing for the upcoming launch.
Credit : NASA
PUNCH’s four satellites will work together to observe the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) and map how it transitions into the solar wind—a vital step in understanding solar phenomena.
Credit : NASA
By making 3D observations of the corona, PUNCH will help uncover how mass and energy in the Sun’s atmosphere become the solar wind that travels across the solar system.
Credit : NASA
SPHEREx will complement the mission by exploring cosmic phenomena like galaxy evolution, reionization, and icy molecular clouds, providing insights into the universe’s origins.
Credit : NASA
PUNCH is led by the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio and Boulder, with management by NASA’s Explorers Program Office at Goddard Space Flight Center.
Credit : NASA
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry both PUNCH and SPHEREx from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E), highlighting the collaboration between NASA and commercial partners.
Credit : NASA
This mission will significantly enhance understanding of solar wind formation and its impact on space weather, offering new insights into solar-system dynamics.
Credit : NASA