NASA is gearing up for an exciting launch featuring SPHEREx, a cutting-edge space telescope poised to uncover the history of the universe while searching for signs of life. Sharing the same rocket, the PUNCH mission will delve into the Sun's outer layers to study solar wind phenomena.
NASA will broadcast live coverage of the highly anticipated launch of SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer), its most recent space telescope. SPHEREx will be launched alongside the PUNCH mission (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere), which is designed to study the solar wind from the Sun.
The launch is slated for Friday, February 28, with a window opening at 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST). A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will transport both missions into space from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SPHEREx aims to explore how the universe has evolved and to search for key life ingredients within our galaxy. Meanwhile, PUNCH consists of four small spacecraft that will observe how the Sun's corona transitions into solar wind—the charged particles that stream outward and shape space weather.
NASA's mission coverage schedule is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Tuesday, February 252 p.m. – SPHEREx and PUNCH Science Overview News Conference featuring:
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters Joe Westlake, director, Heliophysics Division, NASA Headquarters Nicholeen Viall, PUNCH Mission Scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Rachel Akeson, SPHEREx science data center lead, Caltech/IPAC Phil Korngut, SPHEREx instrument scientist, CaltechThe news conference will stream on NASA+.
Thursday, February 273:30 p.m. – SPHEREx and PUNCH Prelaunch News Conference featuring:
Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters David Cheney, PUNCH program executive, NASA Headquarters James Fanson, SPHEREx project manager, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ina Park, 30th Operations Support Squadron launch weather officerCoverage of the prelaunch news conference will stream live on NASA+.
Friday, February 2812 p.m. – SPHEREx and PUNCH Launch Preview will stream live on NASA+.
9:15 p.m. – Launch coverage begins on NASA+.
10:09 p.m. – Launch window opens.
Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the agency’s website. Coverage will include links to live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 9:15 p.m. on February 27 as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff.
Don't miss the opportunity to attend the launch virtually and witness these groundbreaking missions as they embark on their journey to explore the universe and the Sun's mysteries.
