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NEWEST DATE
LAUNCH OF NASA’S SPHEREX AND PUNCH SCIENCE MISSIONS, Mar 11, 2025, Vandenberg, 11:09 pm ET
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Update, March 11: They are going to try again tonight at 11:10 pm ET. The weather is 60% favorable.
Update, March 10, 11:00 pm: The launch has been delayed yet again due to unfavorable weather and a problem with one of the satellites. Another opportunity is available tomorrow (March 11) at the same time (11:10 pm ET), but they haven’t said if they will try then.
From SpaceX’s feed on X (@SpaceX)
Due to unfavorable weather at the launch site and an issue with one of the @NASA spacecraft, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. Next launch opportunity is Tuesday, March 11 at 8:10 p.m. PT
Update, March 9: Last night’s launch was scrubbed. A new date was not announced.
????LAUNCH UPDATE: NASA and SpaceX are standing down for tonight’s launch of SPHEREx and PUNCH.
A new launch date will be announced once confirmed on the range. https://t.co/RlhcztNLFn https://t.co/SKxZfnDZJp
— NASA (@NASA) March 9, 2025
Update, March 8: As of 10:45 am ET today, this is still on for launch tonight at 10:09 pm ET.
Update March 6: Yes, still another delay. Now March 8. Same time. “The additional time will allow SpaceX to complete rocket preparations ahead of liftoff.”
Update, March 5: the launch has been delayed yet again. Now March 7, same time, 10:09 pm ET, “due to the availability of a launch opportunity on the Western range.”
Update, March 3: Another slip, to March 6. Same launch time. The SPHEREx blog says: “NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Thursday, March 6, for the launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. The additional time will allow teams to complete vehicle processing and prelaunch checkouts.”
Update, February 28: Another slip, to March 4. Same launch time.
Update, February 27: The launch date has slipped again. Now it’s on March 2, same time.
Update, February 21: The launch date has slipped one day to February 28. Same time: 10:09 pm ET.
Original Entry: NASA will launch the SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) infrared space telescope and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) solar wind mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA on February 27, 2025 at 10:09 pm ET. NASA+ coverage begins at 9:15 pm ET.
More information about the two missions is in NASA’s press release.
An overview news conference is on February 25, and a prelaunch news conference on February 26. See our separate entries for those.