Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
NASA and SpaceX are launching two missions at once—SPHEREx and PUNCH—aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on February 28 from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.
SPHEREx will explore the first second after the Big Bang, mapping the sky in infrared to uncover cosmic history and life’s essential building blocks.
PUNCH will capture real-time images of the Sun’s corona, revealing how solar wind forms and influences space weather across the solar system.
Liftoff is scheduled no earlier than 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) after additional system checks to ensure mission success.
SpaceX’s reliable Falcon 9 rocket will carry both missions, demonstrating cost-effective multi-payload launches.
NASA will stream a live briefing at 3:30 p.m. EST for updates on the mission objectives and launch preparations.
The NASA+ livestream begins at 9:15 p.m. EST on February 28—don’t miss this historic dual launch!
From early universe mysteries to the Sun’s dynamic corona, these missions aim to answer fundamental questions about our cosmic environment.
With SpaceX’s cutting-edge launch capabilities, NASA continues pushing boundaries in astronomy and space weather research.