Janice R. Andrews
NASA is preparing to launch two revolutionary space missions this Friday (February 28) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The joint launch will carry PUNCH and SPHEREx, two distinct missions designed to map different cosmic phenomena.
Solar Weather Observatory
The PUNCH mission deploys four small satellites to monitor the sun’s outer atmosphere (corona) as it transitions into solar wind. Using polarized light technology, these satellites will create detailed three-dimensional visualizations of space weather events, particularly coronal mass ejections that can affect Earth’s magnetosphere. This data aims to significantly improve our ability to predict potentially disruptive solar storms.
Cosmic Origins Survey
Meanwhile, SPHEREx will conduct a comprehensive infrared survey of the entire sky. Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope’s focused approach, SPHEREx will map the cosmos on a broader scale. The mission has multiple scientific objectives:
- Investigating the universe’s early rapid expansion
- Studying galaxy formation processes
- Examining how water and ice developed in planetary systems
The Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. EST on February 28 (0309 GMT on March 1). By combining these missions into a single launch, NASA efficiently advances our understanding of both our solar system and the distant universe.
