Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A major leap in heliophysics is about to unfold, as NASA’s PUNCH mission prepares to unify solar physics and solar wind research—connecting the Sun’s corona to the vast solar wind in an unprecedented 3D study.
PUNCH will complement NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, bridging close-up and large-scale views of solar activity. By tracking solar wind across billions of miles, these missions will reveal how solar storms evolve and impact space.
Unlike single-spacecraft observatories, PUNCH consists of four satellites in low Earth orbit, working together to create the first continuous 3D map of the Sun’s influence across the solar system.
Using polarimetry, PUNCH will detect scattered sunlight from solar wind particles, revealing their real-time location in 3D space—an enormous upgrade from previous 2D observations.
PUNCH will simulate a permanent total eclipse, providing continuous high-definition imaging of the Sun’s corona. Nicholeen Viall from NASA calls it “a total solar eclipse all the time.”
By capturing solar storms from birth to eruption, PUNCH will refine space weather predictions. Its ability to monitor these storms in real time may protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids on Earth.
Craig DeForest, PUNCH’s principal investigator, explains that these 3D observations will “revolutionize how space weather is forecasted” by allowing scientists to track solar wind events with unmatched precision.
Beyond solar research, PUNCH will create the most detailed polarimetric star map ever made, aiding astronomers in studying deep space objects and refining our understanding of cosmic environments.
With the mission set to launch on February 27 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, PUNCH promises to unlock mysteries of the solar wind—reshaping our knowledge of the Sun and its far-reaching impact.