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SPHEREx telescope and Puch

NASA launches SPHEREx space telescope and PUNCH solar probes

NASA has launched two significant space missions, SPHEREx and PUNCH on March 11 at 11:10 p.m. EST (0310 March 12 GMT), both aimed at exploring different aspects of our universe. While SPHEREx focuses on the large-scale structure of the cosmos and the distribution of key elements in space, PUNCH is dedicated to understanding the Sun’s corona and its impact on space weather.

SPHEREx: Mapping the Universe in Infrared

SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a NASA space telescope designed to perform a near-infrared spectral survey of the entire sky.

Objectives and Scientific Goals

SPHEREx has three main scientific objectives:

Cosmic Inflation and the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

  • SPHEREx will study how the universe expanded shortly after the Big Bang by analyzing large-scale structures in space.
  • By measuring the distribution of galaxies across different epochs, it will test theories related to cosmic inflation, which describes the rapid expansion of the universe in its earliest moments.

Tracing Water and Organic Molecules in the Milky Way

  • The telescope will investigate the presence of water ice and complex organic molecules in interstellar clouds, which are key ingredients for planet formation and the emergence of life.
  • This will provide insights into how planetary systems, including our own, may have formed from interstellar material.

The Epoch of Reionization and Galaxy Formation

  • SPHEREx will help map the first galaxies that formed during the “Epoch of Reionization,” a period when light from the first stars ionized hydrogen in the universe.
  • By detecting faint signals from these early galaxies, it will improve our understanding of how stars and galaxies evolved over cosmic time.

How SPHEREx Works

  • SPHEREx will survey the entire sky in 96 different color bands within the near-infrared spectrum (0.75–5.0 microns).
  • It will collect data on over 300 million galaxies and 100 million stars, producing an unprecedented 3D map of the universe.
  • Unlike previous missions that focused on small sections of the sky, SPHEREx will scan the entire sky every six months, providing a comprehensive dataset for astronomers worldwide.

PUNCH: Studying the Solar Corona and Solar Wind

PUNCH (Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere) is a NASA mission consisting of four small satellites designed to study the outer atmosphere of the Sun (corona) and how it transitions into the solar wind. PUNCH will improve our understanding of space weather, which can affect satellites, power grids, and communication systems on Earth.

Objectives and Scientific Goals

PUNCH aims to answer key questions about how the solar corona connects to the solar wind:

Tracking the Evolution of Solar Wind and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

  • The mission will monitor how the solar wind forms and expands as it moves away from the Sun.
  • It will also observe coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—huge bursts of solar plasma that can cause geomagnetic storms on Earth.

Improving Space Weather Forecasting

  • By continuously imaging the flow of solar material, PUNCH will help predict solar storms that can disrupt satellite operations, GPS signals, and power grids.
  • This data will help scientists better understand and mitigate the effects of extreme solar activity.

Understanding the Transition from Corona to Heliosphere

  • The corona (the Sun’s outer atmosphere) extends millions of kilometers into space, eventually blending into the heliosphere, the bubble of solar wind that surrounds our solar system.
  • PUNCH will provide detailed images of this transition, helping researchers understand how the Sun influences the space environment around Earth and beyond.

How PUNCH Works

  • The mission consists of four small satellites, each equipped with wide-field cameras that will capture images of the solar corona and solar wind in real time.
  • The satellites will work together to create a continuous, panoramic view of how solar material moves through space.
  • Unlike previous missions that only provided snapshots of solar activity, PUNCH will offer a continuous movie of the solar wind, helping scientists track solar events as they develop and move through space.

Both SPHEREx and PUNCH are groundbreaking missions that will provide new insights into different areas of space science. SPHEREx will focus on mapping the large-scale structure of the universe and tracking the distribution of water and organic molecules, while PUNCH will study how the Sun’s outer atmosphere influences space weather. These missions will significantly enhance our understanding of both the distant cosmos and our own solar system, with important implications for astrophysics, planetary science, and space weather prediction.