NASA has delayed its double-mission launch yet again, now targeting Friday, March 7 for liftoff. The SPHEREx and PUNCH missions are expected to launch no earlier than Thursday, March 6. This additional time will allow the teams to complete final preparations.
Liftoff is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The prelaunch news briefing will now take place on Wednesday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m., with coverage streaming live on NASA+.
The SPHEREx mission aims to study the origins of the universe and the formation of galaxies. It uses advanced infrared spectroscopy to conduct a full-sky survey, providing unprecedented details about the cosmos. The mission will help scientists gain insights into what happened during the first second after the Big Bang and analyze the distribution of water and organic molecules in the interstellar medium.
The PUNCH mission is designed to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, focusing on how it extends into space and forms the solar wind. By capturing continuous images of the solar corona and its transition into the heliosphere, the mission will improve space weather forecasting and provide new insights into planetary atmospheres and space environments throughout the solar system.
The launch delay is not unprecedented for NASA’s double-mission program, with previous targets now rescheduled to later dates.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-next-rocket-launch-could-rewrite-the-story-of-the-universe