Why in News?
NASA’s PUNCH Mission, launched via SpaceX, is observing the Sun’s corona and “young solar wind” in 3D using polarised light. It aims to improve understanding of space weather and predict solar events impacting Earth and space missions.
Description:
Full Name: Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH)
Agency: NASA (launched via SpaceX)
Mission Type: Solar observation (study of solar corona & solar wind)
Mission Life: 2 years
Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Payload: Constellation of 4 satellites (~64 kg each)
- 3 Wide Field Imagers (WFI)
- 1 Narrow Field Imager
Imaging Frequency:
- Polarised images every 4 minutes
- Unpolarised images every 8 minutes
Objectives:
- First mission to use polarisation of light to map corona & solar wind in 3D.
- Understand solar corona and solar wind as a single system.
- Provide data for space weather prediction (CMEs, solar flares) to protect Earth and space assets.
Significance:
- Enhances understanding of solar wind formation.
- Helps in safeguarding satellites, astronauts, and robotic missions.
- Current solar phase: Solar Maximum (high activity).
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