Topic: [Discuss] NASA SPHEREx astrophysics mission
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-18-2025 12:56 PM
Please use this topic to discuss NASA's SPHEREx mission to survey the universe's origins.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-18-2025 01:01 PM
NASA and SpaceX have set the opening launch window for the SPHEREx mission at 10:09 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 27 (7:09 p.m. PST or 0309 GMT Feb. 28). The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SPHEREX will launch with another NASA mission, PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere), which will study the Sun's solar wind.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-21-2025 08:46 AM
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) on Friday, Feb. 28, for the launch of SPHEREx (and PUNCH).
The new date will allow additional time to ensure the vehicle’s readiness ahead of liftoff.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-26-2025 06:38 PM
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, March 2, for the launch of the SPHEREx (and PUNCH) missions.
The new date will allow additional time for teams to perform rocket processing ahead of liftoff.
The launch time is targeted for 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Update: Now targeted for Tuesday (March 4) at 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-03-2025 05:04 PM
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Thursday (March 6), for the launch of SPHEREx (and PUNCH) mission.
The additional time will allow teams to complete vehicle processing and prelaunch checkouts.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-05-2025 01:32 PM
The launch is now planned for no earlier than 10:09 p.m. EST on Friday (March 7).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-06-2025 06:03 PM
Another day, another slip...
The launch window now opens no earlier than 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) on Saturday (March 8).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-08-2025 05:45 PM
Per SpaceX:
SpaceX is continuing to complete vehicle checkouts ahead of Falcon 9's launch of NASA's SPHEREx Observatory and PUNCH satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. A new launch date will be announced once confirmed on the Range.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-09-2025 09:57 PM
Per NASA:
NASA and SpaceX have set a new launch date of no earlier than Monday, March 10 for the launch of SPHEREx and PUNCH.
Liftoff is now targeted for 11:10 p.m. EDT (8:10 p.m. PDT) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-10-2025 10:07 PM
SpaceX update
Due to unfavorable weather at the launch site and an issue with one of the NASA spacecraft, we are standing down from tonight's (March 10) Falcon 9 launch of NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions.
Next launch opportunity is Tuesday, March 11 at 8:10 p.m. PDT.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 54183 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-11-2025 09:21 PM
NASA video
Watch the launch of a NASA space telescope that will create a 3D all-sky map in 102 colors, with a constellation of solar-observing satellites along for the ride. Our SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH mission will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
posted 02-18-2025 12:56 PM
advertisement