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PUNCH

Overview

The Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission is a NASA small-explorer (SMEX) mission: its primary science goal is to fully discern the cross-scale physical processes that unify the solar corona and heliosphere.

RAL Space involvement

RAL Space, the UK science lead for PUNCH, will provide the detector systems for four visible-light cameras, one hosted on each of the four suitcase-sized spacecraft, as well as performing calibration on the imagery once the mission has been launched.
Focus
Solar and space physics
Partners
NASA, Southwest Research Institute (US, lead), Naval Research Laboratory (US)
Launch Date
March 2025

Artist's impression of the four PUNCH spacecraft. Credit: Southwest Research Institute