Nasa is preparing to launch two significant missions, SPHEREx and PUNCH, aimed at deepening our understanding of the universe and the Sun’s influence on space. The launch is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, at 10:09 p.m. ET from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This launch follows the successful lift-off of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, which occurred just days earlier. The Lunar Trailblazer mission focuses on mapping water, minerals, and temperatures on the Moon’s surface. It employs two instruments, the High Resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) and the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM), to gather crucial data for future lunar missions.
SPHEREx Mission Details
SPHEREx, short for the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, has multiple objectives. It will enhance our understanding of cosmic inflation, trace the history of light from galaxies, and analyze the role of water and ices in star and planet formation. The mission is expected to last just over two years and will provide the first near-infrared all-sky spectral survey.
PUNCH Mission Overview
PUNCH, or the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, consists of four satellites that will create a constellation in low-Earth orbit. This setup allows for global, 3D observations of the inner heliosphere, aiding in the understanding of how the Sun’s corona transitions into the solar wind.
Live coverage of the launch will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. ET on Sunday. A pre-launch press conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET, which will be available for streaming on the NASA+ app.
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