NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions embark on a journey to unravel cosmic and solar mysteries

NASA has taken another significant leap in space exploration with the successful launch of two pioneering astrophysics missions—SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere). These missions, designed to explore both the vastness of the cosmos and the dynamic behavior of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 11, 2025.

The SPHEREx mission is poised to deliver an unprecedented infrared all-sky survey, providing a detailed map of 450 million galaxies and helping scientists piece together the early history of the universe. Meanwhile, the PUNCH mission will focus on the solar wind, the charged particles streaming from the Sun, offering critical insights into space weather phenomena that affect Earth.

“This mission exemplifies NASA’s commitment to unlocking the mysteries of both our local and distant universe,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. She emphasized that these dual missions will provide a more comprehensive understanding of cosmic evolution and solar activity, enhancing future space exploration capabilities.

How Will SPHEREx Revolutionize Our Understanding of the Universe?

The SPHEREx mission is an ambitious attempt to answer some of the most profound questions about the universe’s origins and structure. Over the next two years, it will conduct spectroscopic analysis to measure the distances of galaxies spread across the sky, revealing how the universe expanded after the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago.

This mission will complement observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope, which focus on specific regions of space with high-resolution imaging. Unlike these observatories, SPHEREx will scan the entire celestial sphere every six months, providing a broader context to localized observations.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the SPHEREx mission is its capability to study the residual light from all galaxies that have ever existed. By analyzing this cosmic background light, astronomers hope to uncover patterns that indicate how early galaxies formed and evolved over time.

The mission will also have profound implications for astrobiology. SPHEREx will identify frozen water ice, carbon dioxide, and other essential molecules within the Milky Way, providing crucial data on the conditions that could support life. By mapping these elements, scientists can pinpoint regions where planetary systems may have formed under similar conditions to Earth.

Laurie Leshin, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which manages SPHEREx, highlighted the resilience of the mission team, particularly in overcoming disruptions caused by Southern California wildfires. She noted that the findings from this mission could reshape humanity’s understanding of how the universe began and whether the conditions necessary for life exist beyond our solar system.

What Role Does the PUNCH Mission Play in Understanding Solar Wind?

While SPHEREx turns its gaze toward the distant universe, the PUNCH mission is set to observe the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, and its transformation into solar wind. This phenomenon influences Earth’s magnetosphere, impacting satellites, astronauts, and even power grids during intense solar storms.

The PUNCH mission consists of four small satellites, which separated from the Falcon 9 launch vehicle 53 minutes after liftoff. These satellites will now undergo a 90-day commissioning phase, during which they will align into formation and begin capturing real-time images of the solar wind’s structure.

Craig DeForest, principal investigator for PUNCH at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), explained that solar wind is not a smooth stream but rather a turbulent flow of charged particles. “Understanding how the Sun’s outer atmosphere evolves into the solar wind will help us predict space weather events that can affect Earth,” he stated.

By creating global, 3D images of the solar system’s inner region, the PUNCH mission will allow researchers to track the development of coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—giant explosions of plasma from the Sun. These events can trigger geomagnetic storms, potentially causing satellite malfunctions and disruptions to communication systems.

How Do SPHEREx and PUNCH Work Together?

Although they have different scientific objectives, the SPHEREx mission and PUNCH mission share a synchronized operational strategy. Both will function in low-Earth, Sun-synchronous orbits, meaning they will always have the Sun in a fixed position relative to their instruments.

For SPHEREx, this design ensures that its telescope remains shielded from solar heat and light, preventing interference with its infrared observations. Meanwhile, for PUNCH, this orientation allows a continuous view of the Sun’s corona, ensuring that it captures the flow of solar wind in real time.

Together, these missions represent a significant step forward in space science, bridging the gap between the origins of the universe and the forces shaping our solar system.

What Are the Engineering and Scientific Contributions Behind These Missions?

The SPHEREx spacecraft was developed by BAE Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) and is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Scientific data from the mission will be processed at Caltech’s IPAC Infrared Science Archive, where researchers from ten U.S. institutions, as well as teams in South Korea and Taiwan, will analyze the findings.

For the PUNCH mission, the four satellites were built at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), with additional contributions from the Naval Research Laboratory. The mission is managed by NASA’s Explorers Program Office at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, ensuring seamless collaboration among multiple institutions.

NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the Kennedy Space Center, facilitated the deployment of both missions, reinforcing its role in advancing astrophysics and space weather research.

What Comes Next for NASA’s Latest Space Missions?

Over the coming months, both the SPHEREx mission and PUNCH mission will enter their respective operational phases. SPHEREx will begin its two-year mission of mapping the cosmos, while PUNCH will refine its imaging of solar wind dynamics.

James Fanson, SPHEREx project manager at JPL, remarked that these missions could provide the scientific foundation for answering fundamental questions about the universe, from the origins of galaxies to the forces shaping space weather.

As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, these dual missions represent a bold step toward understanding both the distant and immediate forces shaping our cosmic environment. With each dataset returned, the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions will bring humanity closer to unlocking the most profound mysteries of existence.