Insider Brief
- NASA and SpaceX will launch the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions on March 2 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, using a Falcon 9 rocket.
- SPHEREx will survey the sky in near-infrared light to study the early universe and identify key molecules for life, while PUNCH will analyze the Sun’s corona and solar wind.
- NASA will provide live coverage of the launch, with a prelaunch briefing scheduled for March 1, as these missions aim to enhance understanding of cosmic history and space weather.
NASA is has rescheduled the launch of two key scientific missions, SPHEREx and PUNCH to no earlier than Sunday, March 2. The launch, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, is set for 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST), and will use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to carry both missions into orbit, according to NASA.
SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, aims to enhance understanding of the early universe and search for fundamental components necessary for life in the Milky Way. PUNCH, or the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, will focus on studying the Sun’s corona and its transition into solar wind, which affects space weather and Earth’s magnetic environment.
NASA announced that the adjusted launch date provides additional time for rocket processing. A prelaunch briefing is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m., and media can participate in person or via phone. NASA will also provide live launch coverage beginning at 9:15 p.m. EST on March 2 via NASA+.
SPHEREx will use near-infrared light to survey the entire sky multiple times, collecting data to help scientists investigate cosmic history, galaxy formation, and the distribution of essential molecules in space. PUNCH, consisting of four small spacecraft, will track the solar wind’s development, offering insights into how the Sun’s outer atmosphere influences space weather and planetary environments.
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