Suggested Searches

SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer)

Viewing Posts from March 2025

View All Posts

    NASA Begins Live Broadcast of SPHEREx, PUNCH Missions

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites, is vertical at Space Launch Complex 4 East from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

    NASA just ramped up its coverage of today’s launch of NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) missions, as the live broadcast with commentary has now begun.  Watch the broadcast airing live on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how …

    Read Full Post

    Key Milestones for Today’s Launch

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites, is vertical at Space Launch Complex 4 East from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, March 8, 2025. SPHEREx will use its telescope to provide an all-sky spectral survey, creating a 3D map of the entire sky to help scientists investigate the origins of our universe. PUNCH will study origins of the Sun’s outflow of material, or the solar wind, capturing continuous 3D images of the Sun’s corona and the solar wind’s journey into the solar system.

    We’re a little over an hour and a half away from today’s launch of NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) missions aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force …

    Read Full Post

    Weather 20% Favorable for Today’s Launch

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites, is vertical at Space Launch Complex 4 East from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, March 10, 2025.

    NASA is targeting 11:10 p.m. EDT (8:10 p.m. PDT) for launch of the agency’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) missions. The SPHEREx observatory and the rideshare PUNCH satellites will lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket …

    Read Full Post

    NASA’s SPHEREx, PUNCH Missions Live Coverage Begins

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellites, is vertical at Space Launch Complex 4 East from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

    Good evening, and welcome to live launch coverage of NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) missions!  The SPHEREx mission will search for key ingredients for life in our galaxy and improve our understanding of how the universe …

    Read Full Post

    NASA, SpaceX Set New Date for Two Science Missions

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sits on a launch pad at dawn. Lights illuminate the rocket from below and the sky is just beginning to lighten on the horizon.

    NASA and SpaceX set a new launch date of no earlier than Monday, March 10 for the launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions on a Falcon 9 rocket. With the change to Daylight Saving Time, the launch is now targeted for 11:10 p.m. EDT (8:10 p.m. PDT) from Space Launch Complex 4 East …

    Read Full Post

    NASA, SpaceX Stand Down on Launch for SPHEREx, PUNCH

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands erect on the launch pad along side a retractable gantry. The horizon is golden in the light of dawn with a deeper blue sky above.

    NASA and SpaceX are standing down for tonight’s launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. The additional time will allow teams to continue rocket checkouts ahead of liftoff. A new launch date will be announced once confirmed on the range. Visit the NASA website for more information about SPHEREx and PUNCH.

    Read Full Post

    NASA Missions ‘Go’ for Launch; News Briefing at 3:30 p.m. EST

    SPHEREx and PUNCH spacecraft shown encapsulated in a protective fairing

    A team of launch managers for NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) missions authorized approval to proceed to launch countdown at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California ahead of a scheduled launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 …

    Read Full Post

    NASA, SpaceX Update Launch Date for SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions

    NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Saturday, March 8, for the launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. The additional time will allow SpaceX to complete rocket preparations ahead of liftoff. The launch window opens at 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg …

    Read Full Post

    NASA, SpaceX Update Launch Date for SPHEREx, PUNCH Missions

    NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Friday, March 7, for the launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions due to the availability of a launch opportunity on the Western range. The launch window opens at 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space …

    Read Full Post