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GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Context:
NASA is set to launch the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, a Small Explorer initiative aimed at capturing global, three-dimensional observations of the young solar wind, extending from the outermost solar atmosphere (Corona) to the inner heliosphere.
Key Features:
- Mission Design: The mission consists of four small satellites, each weighing approximately 64 kg, deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- Technology: It includes three Wide Field Imagers (WFI) and one Narrow Field Imager for enhanced observation.
- Polarisation of Light: PUNCH is the first mission designed to utilize light polarisation to study the solar corona and wind in 3D.
- When electrons scatter sunlight, the light waves align in a specific manner, known as polarised light, enabling detailed analysis.
- Lifespan: The mission is expected to operate for two years.
Significance:
- Understanding Solar Winds & Coronal Mass Ejections: These phenomena influence space weather, affecting satellites, astronauts, and communication networks.
- Enhanced Space Weather Forecasting: Data from PUNCH will improve predictions of solar storms and their impact on Earth’s magnetosphere.
- Comprehensive Solar Study: The mission complements observations from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter, contributing to a more detailed understanding of solar activity.
