NASA’s highly anticipated first rideshare mission under the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) faced a setback as a last-minute technical issue forced officials to scrub the launch. The Falcon 9 rocket, set to carry the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions, was scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. However, a “SPHEREx ground data-flow issue” led to the postponement. Additionally, weather conditions worsened throughout the day, reducing the chance of a successful launch to just 5% by the time NASA decided to stand down.
Technicians and engineers encapsulate 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 within a protective payload fairing inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Image: BAE Systems/Benjamin Fry
The next available launch attempt is set for Tuesday, March 11, at 8:10 p.m. PDT (11:10 p.m. EDT, 0310 UTC), with a 60% chance of favorable weather, though thick cloud cover is expected to persist.
The mission represents a significant shift in how NASA launches science payloads. Previously, SMD missions relied on dedicated launches through NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP), managed by the Kennedy Space Center. This new rideshare model enables multiple science missions to share a single launch, optimizing cost and efficiency.
“We call this a rideshare, and it’s a new strategy we’re working on to maximize the efficiency of launches by flying two payloads at once,” said Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator for SMD. “Not only does this allow us to maximize our science return, but these missions also cover the full breadth of NASA’s scientific endeavors.”
This is the first of multiple planned SMD rideshare missions in 2025. Later this year, NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) and Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) will also share a launch vehicle.
Initially scheduled for February 28, the launch has been repeatedly delayed due to a combination of weather conditions and technical issues. The most recent attempt, planned for March 9, was put on hold to allow further checks of the rocket’s systems.
SPHEREx: Mapping the Cosmos in Infrared
SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is an infrared space telescope designed to conduct a full-sky survey at an unprecedented spectral resolution. Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, which focuses on specific celestial objects, SPHEREx will create a comprehensive 3D map of the sky in 102 infrared wavelengths.
Key technical specifications include:
- Orbit: 650 km (404 miles) in a sun-synchronous polar orbit
Survey Scope: More than 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars
Telescope Design: 20 cm (8-inch) primary mirror with dual infrared cameras
Spectral Coverage: 0.75 to 5.0 microns, optimized for detecting water ice, organic molecules, and interstellar dust
Cryogenic System: Passive cooling and radiative heat rejection to maintain optimal infrared sensitivity
SPHEREx’s primary mission objectives include:
Cosmic Inflation Studies: By mapping the large-scale structure of the universe, SPHEREx will help scientists investigate inflation, a rapid expansion that occurred fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
Interstellar Ice Distribution: The telescope will search for frozen water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide in molecular clouds where stars and planets form, shedding light on how water was delivered to Earth-like planets.
Extragalactic Background Light Analysis: By measuring the integrated infrared glow from all galaxies, SPHEREx will provide insights into galaxy formation and evolution.
SPHEREx will operate in tandem with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Hubble Space Telescope, providing wide-field data to complement JWST’s high-resolution targeted observations.
PUNCH: Unraveling the Sun’s Influence on the Solar System
PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) is a heliophysics mission designed to study how the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, transitions into the solar wind. Unlike previous missions that have studied the corona and solar wind separately, PUNCH will be the first to observe
them together in continuous, high-resolution images.
One of the PUNCH satellites can be seen with its solar arrays deployed. Alex Valdez/USSF 30th Space Wing/NASA
Technical features of the PUNCH mission include:
Constellation of Four Small Satellites: Each roughly the size of a suitcase, orbiting Earth in formation to capture a 3D view of the solar wind’s structure.
Orbit: 570 km (354 miles) in a sun-synchronous orbit, optimized for uninterrupted solar observations.
Instrument Payload:
Wide-Field Imagers (WFI): Two spacecraft will carry these cameras to track the solar wind’s global evolution.
Narrow-Field Polarimeter Imagers (NFI): The other two spacecraft will capture high-contrast images of the corona using polarized light, allowing scientists to map magnetic field structures.
Observation Focus: Continuous monitoring of solar wind acceleration, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and their effects on space weather.
By observing the solar wind in real-time, PUNCH aims to improve our understanding of:
Space Weather Prediction: CMEs and solar storms can disrupt power grids, satellites, and communication networks. PUNCH’s data will help scientists model and forecast these events with greater accuracy.
Solar Maximum Activity: The Sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, making this an ideal time for observing solar storms.
Magnetic Field Dynamics: Understanding how solar wind interacts with planetary magnetospheres, including Earth’s, will enhance our knowledge of space environments across the solar system.
PUNCH will work in concert with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which is studying the Sun up close, and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter, which observes the Sun from high latitudes. This multi-mission approach will provide a comprehensive picture of the Sun’s behavior and its impact on space weather.
NASA and SpaceX are working to resolve the remaining technical concerns before setting a new launch date. With multiple launch windows available through April, mission teams are optimistic that SPHEREx and PUNCH will soon embark on their journey to revolutionize space science.
“These missions demonstrate NASA’s commitment to understanding both the vastness of the universe and the forces that shape our solar system,” said Dr. Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “From unraveling the origins of life’s ingredients to protecting Earth from solar storms, SPHEREx and PUNCH will provide invaluable insights.”
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