Nasa to Launch their mission SPHEREx and PUNCH with SpaceX here’s how to Watch
NASA’s plans for a late-night rocket launch faced another setback as thick cloud cover forced a postponement, marking the second delay since a rocket issue halted Saturday’s attempt. The two missions, both pivotal to exploring cosmic and solar mysteries, were scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Monday night. However, less than an hour before liftoff, NASA and SpaceX announced during a live broadcast that the launch had been scrubbed due to persistent cloud cover and an additional system issue with one of NASA’s spacecraft. SpaceX later confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that the next opportunity for the launch would be Tuesday night at 11:10 p.m. Eastern Time.
The mission’s primary payload is SPHEREx, a space telescope designed to capture images of the entire sky in over a hundred infrared colors invisible to the naked eye. Accompanying it is PUNCH, a suite of small satellites tasked with studying the sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind. SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, aims to survey the entire sky using 102 wavelengths of infrared light. The telescope, resembling a giant megaphone, is expected to capture around 600 images daily. By employing spectroscopy, SPHEREx will break down the light into various wavelengths, similar to how a prism divides light into a rainbow. This process will provide insights into the chemical composition and distances of cosmic objects. The data gathered will allow scientists to examine how the light emitted by galaxies has evolved over time and to map regions in the Milky Way where frozen water and other life-essential elements exist. Additionally, the telescope will assist in creating a three-dimensional map of galaxy distributions, offering clues about the rapid expansion of the universe following the Big Bang.
The PUNCH mission, led by the Southwest Research Institute, involves four suitcase-sized satellites. One satellite is equipped with a coronagraph to capture detailed images of the sun’s outer atmosphere, while the other three will observe the broader flow of solar wind. Each satellite uses polarizing filters to measure light, helping to determine the speed, position, and direction of the solar wind. These observations will deepen understanding of the boundary between the sun and the solar wind and provide insights into how coronal mass ejections, powerful solar eruptions, evolve as they travel toward Earth. This data is crucial for improving forecasts related to space weather, including its potential impact on power grids and atmospheric phenomena like the northern lights.
Both SPHEREx and PUNCH will orbit about 400 miles above Earth along the terminator line separating day and night. This sun-synchronous orbit will keep their positions consistent relative to the sun, ensuring optimal observational conditions. For PUNCH, this means continuous, unobstructed views around the sun, while SPHEREx will be shielded from solar infrared interference, enabling clearer observations of distant cosmic signals.
