Programme
Heliospheric Physics
The Heliospheric Physics programme focuses on the development, operation and scientific use of visible light imaging instruments that observe the Sun’s outer corona and inner heliosphere. We design, build and provide post-launch support for space based imagers such as the Heliospheric Imagers of NASA’s STEREO mission as well as exploiting their data to advance solar system science and improve space weather forecasting capabilities.
Schematic of the PUNCH constellation -four satellites that are studying how the Sun’s corona (outer atmosphere) evolves into the heliosphere (the solar wind). Credit: Image Courtesy of Southwest Research Institute
Programme Aims
Our aim is to deliver innovative imaging technologies and scientific insight that deepen our understanding of the Sun’s influence on the heliosphere and planets therein such as Earth. The programme supports missions that observe solar-driven phenomena such coronal mass ejections and other solar wind structures impact both exploration science and the resilience to space weather of modern technological systems.
Our Work
We provide expertise across mission and instrument design, instrument development and post-launch support, and scientific data exploitation to support solar system research and space weather services.
Instrument design and development
We design and develop space based instruments that image the outer corona and heliosphere in visible light. This includes involvement across mission planning, instrument design, manufacture, testing and post-launch support.
Scientific research
Our scientific research uses data from coronal and heliospheric imagers, alongside other heliophysics instrumentation, to study the evolution of coronal mass ejections, and other coronal and heliospheric structures, supporting both fundamental heliophysics and applied space weather forecasting. The programme contributes to national and international efforts to understand solar driven hazards affecting Earth.
Innovation in heliospheric imaging
We advance innovative approaches for visible light imaging of the outer corona and inner heliosphere. This includes improving instrument performance such as sensitivity via, for example, sophisticated modelling, well as developing improved data analysis techniques used to monitor dynamic solar activity.
Close up of one of the camera electronics boxes. Credit: STFC
Case Study
PUNCH
NASA’s PUNCH mission uses four coordinated satellites to map how the Sun’s outer atmosphere evolves into the solar wind. RAL Space designed and built the mission’s visible‑light camera systems and leads the in‑flight calibration, ensuring the satellites operate together as a single observatory for studying space‑weather processes. This work builds on RAL Space’s long heritage in solar‑wind imaging, including major contributions to NASA’s STEREO mission.
