# PUNCH-WFI 2

> NASA heliophysics satellite, part of the PUNCH constellation

**Wikidata**: [Q133266221](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133266221)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/punch-wfi-2

## Summary
PUNCH-WFI 2 is a NASA heliophysics satellite that is part of the PUNCH constellation, launched on March 12, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East. It carries a Wide Field Imager to study the solar wind and corona. The satellite was built by Southwest Research Institute and launched aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.

## Key Facts
- Launched on March 12, 2025, at 03:10:12 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East
- Part of the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) constellation
- Carries a Wide Field Imager scientific instrument
- Has dimensions of 0.923m length × 0.6m width × 0.320m height
- Weighs 64 kilograms (launch weight)
- Operated by Southwest Research Institute for NASA
- Has COSPAR ID 2025-047D and NSSDCA ID 2025-047D
- Powered by a spacecraft solar array
- Country of origin is the United States
- Launched alongside SPHEREx, PUNCH-NFI, PUNCH-WFI 1, and PUNCH-WFI 3

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of PUNCH-WFI 2?
A: PUNCH-WFI 2 is designed to study the solar wind and corona as part of NASA's heliophysics mission. It carries a Wide Field Imager to observe these solar phenomena and help unify our understanding of the corona and heliosphere.

### Q: Who built and operates PUNCH-WFI 2?
A: PUNCH-WFI 2 was built by Southwest Research Institute, which also operates the satellite for NASA. The satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.

### Q: When and how was PUNCH-WFI 2 launched?
A: PUNCH-WFI 2 was launched on March 12, 2025, at 03:10:12 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East in California. It was launched aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket (B1088.3) along with several other satellites.

## Why It Matters
PUNCH-WFI 2 represents a significant advancement in our ability to study the Sun's influence on the solar system. As part of the PUNCH constellation, it helps bridge the gap between remote sensing of the Sun's corona and in-situ measurements of the solar wind. This mission is crucial for understanding space weather phenomena that can affect satellites, communications, and power grids on Earth. By providing continuous, wide-field imaging of the solar wind as it leaves the Sun, PUNCH-WFI 2 enables scientists to track and predict solar events more accurately than ever before. The data collected will improve our fundamental understanding of how the Sun drives space weather and impacts the entire solar system, making it an essential tool for both scientific research and practical applications in space weather forecasting.

## Notable For
- First satellite in the PUNCH constellation to carry a Wide Field Imager for solar wind observation
- Part of NASA's first mission specifically designed to image the transition between the Sun's corona and the solar wind
- Launched as part of a rideshare mission with SPHEREx, demonstrating cost-effective deployment of multiple scientific missions
- Represents collaboration between NASA, Southwest Research Institute, and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
- Operates as a microsatellite while carrying sophisticated heliophysics instrumentation

## Body
### Technical Specifications
PUNCH-WFI 2 has compact dimensions of 0.923 meters in length, 0.6 meters in width, and 0.320 meters in height, with a total mass of 64 kilograms at launch. The satellite is powered by a spacecraft solar array and operates as a microsatellite within the broader PUNCH constellation. Its primary scientific instrument is the Wide Field Imager, designed specifically for observing the solar wind and corona.

### Mission Details
The satellite was launched on March 12, 2025, at precisely 03:10:12 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East in California. The launch vehicle was a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, specifically the B1088.3 first stage. This launch was part of a rideshare mission that also deployed SPHEREx and three other PUNCH constellation satellites (PUNCH-NFI, PUNCH-WFI 1, and PUNCH-WFI 3).

### Operational Framework
PUNCH-WFI 2 is operated by Southwest Research Institute under contract to NASA. The satellite has been assigned the COSPAR ID 2025-047D and NSSDCA ID 2025-047D for tracking and cataloging purposes. As part of the PUNCH constellation, it works in coordination with other satellites to provide comprehensive coverage of the solar wind as it transitions from the Sun's corona into interplanetary space.

### Scientific Objectives
The primary mission of PUNCH-WFI 2 is to study the solar wind and corona through its Wide Field Imager. This instrument allows for continuous observation of the region where the Sun's corona transitions into the solar wind, a critical area for understanding space weather phenomena. The data collected will help scientists better predict solar events and their impacts on Earth and the broader solar system.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_punch.htm)
2. [Source](https://assets.science.nasa.gov/content/dam/science/missions/punch/PUNCH%20Press%20Kit%20Updated%20Feb%2020%202025.pdf)
3. [Source](https://blogs.nasa.gov/punch/2025/03/12/nasas-punch-begins-mission-to-study-solar-wind/)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2025-047D)
6. Space-Track
7. [NASA, SpaceX launch SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH heliophysics mission from California. NASASpaceflight. 2025](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/03/spherex-punch-launch/)
8. [Source](https://punch.space.swri.edu/punch_about_mission.php)
9. [Source](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/punch#spacecraft)