A conceptual animation of the PUNCH spacecraft. Working together, the four suitcase-sized satellites will create a combined field of view and map the region where the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, transitions to the solar wind (the constant outflow of material from the Sun),
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This conceptual animation shows PUNCH’s four suitcase-sized spacecraft spreading out along the planet’s day-night boundary after being launched into Earth orbit, giving the mission a continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun and its surroundings.
The goal of the animation is to demonstrate how each spacecraft is spaced relative to each other. In reality, they are orbiting in the same direction at slightly different rates. The final formation of the three Wide-Field Imagers (WFI01, WFI02, and WFI03) has them spaced 120 degrees apart so they can capture an unobstructed, 360-degree view of the heliosphere. At the end of this animation, WFI03 is at 12 o’clock, WFI02 is at 8 o’clock, and WFI01 is at 4 o’clock. Meanwhile the Narrow-Field Imager (NFI00) is nominally 180 degrees from WFI03 (at 6 o’clock at the end of the animation), but since its view is focused much tighter on the Sun, its spacing relative to the others does not have to be fixed.
Credit: NASA's Conceptual Image Lab
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At the end of this animation, WFI03 is at 12 o’clock, WFI02 is at 8 o’clock, and WFI01 is at 4 o’clock. Meanwhile the Narrow-Field Imager (NFI00) is nominally 180 degrees from WFI03 (at 6 o’clock at the end of the animation), but since its view is focused much tighter on the Sun, its spacing relative to the others does not have to be fixed.Credit: NASA's Conceptual Image Lab", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 490834, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157887, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020300/a020388/20388_PUNCHFormation_4k_H264.00001_searchweb.png", "filename": "20388_PUNCHFormation_4k_H264.00001_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Conceptual AnimationThis conceptual animation shows PUNCH’s four suitcase-sized spacecraft spreading out along the planet’s day-night boundary after being launched into Earth orbit, giving the mission a continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun and its surroundings. 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This will help scientists answer major questions about what happened in the first second after the big bang, how galaxies form and evolve, and the origins and abundance of water and other key ingredients for life in our galaxy.Ride-sharing with SPHEREx was NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which will study the outer portion of the Sun, the corona, to understand how solar wind forms.For more information on SPHEREx: nasa.gov/spherexFor more information on PUNCH: science.nasa.gov/mission/punch || ", "release_date": "2025-03-17T09:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-03-17T12:11:03-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1153470, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014803/JPL-20250313-SPHERXf-0001-SPHEREx_and_PUNCH_Launch~orig.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "JPL-20250313-SPHERXf-0001-SPHEREx_and_PUNCH_Launch~orig.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Highlights from the March 11, 2025, launch of NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope, which will observe hundreds of millions of galaxies near and far, mapping the entire sky in 102 wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. The spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:10 p.m. EST (8:10 p.m. PDT).Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14784, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14784/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Mission Media Teleconference", "description": "NASA held a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 4, to share information about the agency’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which is targeted to launch no earlier than Thursday, February 27, 2025.The agency’s PUNCH mission is a constellation of four small satellites. When they arrive in low Earth orbit, the satellites will make global, 3D observations of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, and help NASA learn how the mass and energy there become solar wind. By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission will share a ride to space with NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) space telescope on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.The Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, leads the PUNCH mission. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.To learn more about PUNCH, please visit: nasa.gov/punch || ", "release_date": "2025-02-13T14:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-02-13T14:32:47-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1152205, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014784/NASAs_PUNCH_Mission_to_Launch_to_Study_Solar_Wind_Media_Teleconference.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "NASAs_PUNCH_Mission_to_Launch_to_Study_Solar_Wind_Media_Teleconference.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Participants include:Joe Westlake, heliophysics division director, NASA HeadquartersNicholeen Viall, PUNCH mission scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterCraig DeForest, PUNCH principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14783, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14783/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA Interview Opportunity: Two Missions, One Rocket: One Shared Goal", "description": "Assocated cut b-roll will be posted by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb 24. || SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner.jpg (1800x720) [495.3 KB] || SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner_print.jpg (1024x409) [260.6 KB] || SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner_searchweb.png (320x180) [111.2 KB] || SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner_thm.png [8.0 KB] || ", "release_date": "2025-02-13T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-08-05T13:35:46.152098-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1152149, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014783/SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner.jpg", "filename": "SPHEREx_PUNCH_Live_Shots_Banner.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Assocated cut b-roll will be posted by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb 24.", "width": 1800, "height": 720, "pixels": 1296000 } }, { "id": 14773, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14773/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA's PUNCH Mission", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun’s corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.Watch the video to learn how imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together will help scientists better understand the entire inner heliosphere — Sun, solar wind, and Earth — as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.For more information visit science.nasa.gov/mission/punch || ", "release_date": "2025-02-04T10:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-03-07T11:44:03-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1141642, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014773/PUNCH_thumb.png", "filename": "PUNCH_thumb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Music Credit: “Crafted with Science Instrumental” by Zak McNeil [ASCAP] via Universal Production MusicVideo Credit: NASA/Beth Anthony", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 14776, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14776/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Satellites Integration and Testing", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun's corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-30T14:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-30T14:32:22.364285-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1147720, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014776/KSC-20250123-PH-SRI01_0001~orig.jpg", "filename": "KSC-20250123-PH-SRI01_0001~orig.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Technicians conduct integration and testing of NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites during prelaunch operations inside Astrotech Space Operations on Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.Credit: Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)", "width": 1280, "height": 960, "pixels": 1228800 } }, { "id": 14770, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14770/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Satellites Test Operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun's corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-24T09:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-27T14:36:30.442291-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1141479, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014770/KSC-20250119-PH-ATR01_0349~orig_print.jpg", "filename": "KSC-20250119-PH-ATR01_0349~orig_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Technicians use an overheard crane to lift NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) spacecraft onto a work stand for testing operations at the Astrotech Processing Facility on Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.Credit: USSF 30th Space Wing/Antonio Ram", "width": 1024, "height": 683, "pixels": 699392 } }, { "id": 14768, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14768/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Satellites Solar Array Deployment Test", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun's corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-23T17:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-30T14:14:44.008289-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1141422, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014768/KSC-20250121-PH-ANV01_0002~orig_print.jpg", "filename": "KSC-20250121-PH-ANV01_0002~orig_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Crews conduct a solar array deployment test on the spacecraft of NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites at Astrotech Space Operations located on Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.Credit: USSF 30th Space Wing/Alex Valdez", "width": 1024, "height": 683, "pixels": 699392 } }, { "id": 14767, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14767/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Satellites Arrival at Vandenberg Space Force Base", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun's corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-23T16:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-23T16:22:18.718501-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1141370, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014767/KSC-20250118-PH-ANV01_0005~orig_print.jpg", "filename": "KSC-20250118-PH-ANV01_0005~orig_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A transport truck carrying four small satellites of NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) arrives at Astrotech Space Operations located inside Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.Credit: USSF 30th Space Wing/Alex Valdez", "width": 1024, "height": 682, "pixels": 698368 } }, { "id": 14765, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14765/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "PUNCH Assembly and Testing", "description": "NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH mission, is a constellation of four small satellites in low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun's corona to better understand how the mass and energy there becomes the solar wind that fills the solar system.By imaging the Sun’s corona and the solar wind together, scientists hope to better understand the entire inner heliosphere – Sun, solar wind, and Earth – as a single connected system.The PUNCH mission is led by Southwest Research Institute’s office in Boulder, Colorado. The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-23T15:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-23T15:41:27.856138-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1141329, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014765/14765_PUNCH_001.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "14765_PUNCH_001.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Southwest Research Institute conducts final assembly and testing of the PUNCH spacecraft in its cleanroom facilities in San Antonio, Texas.Credit: NASA/SwRI", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }