BackForward Satellite Programme: Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Four suitcase-sized satellites work together to produce images of the entire inner solar system.
  • One of NASA's small explorer missions
  • Lead Centre is South West Research Institute (US) with NRL and RAL (UK) developing parts of the optics and detectors
  • Satellites are 3-axis stabilised
  • Mission lifetime is for 2 years from 90 day commissioning
  • Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, dawn/dusk alignment. 3 satellites 120 deg apart in orbit.
  • Will make global, 3D observations of the solar wind. 
  • See mission description at https://punch.space.swri.edu/punch_about_mission.php.
Data circulation
  • Data collected by SWRI.
  • PUNCH has an open data policy and all PUNCH data are freely available to anyone for any purpose.
Agencies NASA , NRL
Programme lifetime 2025 - 2028
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned