SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions Launch Postponed Due to SpaceX Vehicle Checkouts

The launch of NASA's SPHEREx and PUNCH missions, initially scheduled for March 8 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, has been delayed.

SpaceX, the launch provider, cited ongoing vehicle checkouts as the reason for the postponement. SPHEREx aims to map the cosmos using infrared light, providing a broad-scale view for research on cosmic inflation and the distribution of water and organic molecules.

The PUNCH mission, comprising four satellites, will monitor the Sun's outer atmosphere to study coronal mass ejections and their impact on Earth's magnetosphere, crucial for predicting space weather. A revised launch date will be announced after SpaceX completes its evaluations.