NASA’s PUNCH MISSION
- NASA is launching a new mission called PUNCH (Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) to study the sun’s outer atmosphere and understand solar winds and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
- These solar events affect space weather and can impact systems on Earth like satellite communication and GPS.
- The mission will launch on February 28, 2025, using SpaceX to carry four small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
MISSION DETAILS
KEY FEATURES OF PUNCH
- Polarisation Measurement:
- PUNCH will use polarised light to study the sun.
- It will use polarising filters to measure how sunlight is scattered by particles in the corona, giving scientists detailed information about solar activity.
- 3D Imaging:
- PUNCH will use four cameras working together to create 3D images of the sun’s corona, offering a unique look at solar winds and CMEs.
- Continuous Imaging:
- The cameras will take images of the sun every four minutes and capture both polarised and unpolarised light at different times.
- Wide and Narrow Field Imaging:
- The Wide Field Imagers (WFI) will capture a large area of the sun’s atmosphere, while the Narrow Field Imager will focus on specific regions for more detailed observations.
SCIENTIFIC IMPACT
- Tracking Solar Winds and CMEs:
- PUNCH will help scientists understand how solar winds and CMEs form, evolve, and move through space.
- This information is important for predicting when these solar events might reach Earth.
- Space Weather Prediction:
- Data from PUNCH will help improve predictions of space weather events.
- This will help reduce the impact of solar storms on Earth and space missions.
WHY IT MATTERS?
- Impact on Earth: Solar events can disrupt satellite communication, GPS systems, and power grids on Earth.
- Space Exploration: Solar weather can also affect spacecraft, so understanding it is important for protecting both Earth’s technology and future space missions.
- Better Predictions: The mission will improve our ability to predict space weather, helping us prepare for its effects.
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