NASA PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONF FOR SPHEREX AND PUNCH, Mar 7, 2025, virtual, 3:30 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.”  This news conference is now March 7. Same time.

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.” This news conference now is March 6 at 3:30 pm ET.

Update, March 3, 7:00 pm ET:  The launch has been postponed until March 6. This news conference is rescheduled for March 5 at 3:30 pm ET.

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, March 3:  NASA just posted on its blog that today’s news conference is canceled.  No explanation is provided.

It simply says: “NASA will not hold the SPHEREx and PUNCH prelaunch news conference on Monday, March 3. The agency will share more information as soon as possible.”

Update, February 28: The launch has slipped again, to March 4, and this news conference is now March 3 at 3:30 pm ET.

Update, February 27:  The launch date slipped to March 2 and this pre-launch news conference is now March 1 at 3:30 pm ET.

Update, February 21:  The launch has slipped a day to February 28 and accordingly the dates for the two pre-launch press conferences.  This one now is on February 27. Same time: 3:30 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.

A pre-launch news conference will take place on February 26 at 3:30 pm ET and live stream on NASA+.  Participants are:

• Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• David Cheney, PUNCH program executive, NASA Headquarters
• James Fanson, SPHEREx project manager, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program
• Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX
• U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ina Park, 30th Operations Support Squadron launch weather officer

More information about the two missions is in NASA’s press release.