PUNCH utilizes a unique imaging technique that employs polarization to produce three-dimensional images, improving the tracking of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their trajectories toward Earth.

The mission comprises four suitcase-sized satellites with overlapping fields of view, enabling continuous observation of the Sun and the creation of comprehensive images of the solar corona and solar wind.

NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission is set to launch on February 28, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The mission will collaborate with NASA's Parker Solar Probe and other initiatives like CODEX and EZIE, providing a holistic view of solar phenomena by bridging different observational perspectives.

This groundbreaking mission will be the first to simultaneously image the Sun's corona and solar wind, offering valuable insights into solar events and their potential impacts on Earth and space missions.

PUNCH aims to operate for at least two years following a 90-day commissioning period, focusing on maximizing scientific returns through a rideshare launch with the SPHEREx mission.

Each satellite is equipped with a Narrow Field Imager for observing the solar corona and three Wide Field Imagers to capture the solar wind, significantly enhancing the understanding of solar wind dynamics.

Ultimately, PUNCH will aid scientists in studying the solar wind's influence on Earth's magnetic field and its implications for future space missions, including those carrying astronauts to the Moon.

Managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA Goddard, PUNCH is led by the Southwest Research Institute's offices located in San Antonio and Boulder.