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NASA’s PUNCH Sharpens Solar Storm Forecasting in First Test
NASA's PUNCH mission used continuous 3D imagery to predict a solar eruption's arrival at Earth within 30 minutes during an initial test. The project allows scientists to track coronal mass ejections nearly all the way from the Sun to Earth.
Why it matters
Precise forecasting helps protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids from the damaging effects of solar storms.
The details
- PUNCH uses four spacecraft in low Earth orbit for continuous 3D observations.
- The test was ten times more accurate than current five-hour window methods.
- Imagery reveals coronal mass ejections are clumpier than previously thought.
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In this article
Key connections
NASA owns and funds the PUNCH heliophysics mission.
Southwest Research Institute is related to PUNCH
Southwest Research Institute leads the PUNCH mission and operates its four spacecraft.
Craig DeForest works at Southwest Research Institute
Craig DeForest is principal investigator for PUNCH at Southwest Research Institute's Solar System Science and Exploration Division.
Craig DeForest leads PUNCH
Craig DeForest serves as principal investigator for NASA's PUNCH mission.
Space Science Mission Operations is a member of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Space Science Mission Operations is based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Space Science Mission Operations is related to PUNCH
Space Science Mission Operations manages the PUNCH mission.
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Space Science Mission Operations is related to Science Mission Directorate
Space Science Mission Operations manages PUNCH for the Science Mission Directorate.
Craig DeForest is related to Committee on Space Research
Craig DeForest and researchers presented PUNCH test results at the Committee on Space Research Scientific Meeting.
PUNCH uses Space Weather Forecasting
PUNCH continuous 3D imagery is used to forecast space weather and solar storm arrival times.
PUNCH is related to Heliophysics
PUNCH is a NASA heliophysics mission using four spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
Related events
PUNCH Solar Storm Forecasting Proof of Concept Test
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