On a clear night at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, excitement filled the air as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off, unveiling a new chapter in space exploration. The rocket launched NASA's cutting-edge SPHEREx space telescope and the innovative PUNCH solar mission on March 11 at 11:10 p.m. EST (03:10 March 12 GMT). Cheers erupted from onlookers, and members of mission control celebrated as the dual payload embarked on its journey to unlock cosmic secrets.

Farah Alibay, lead flight system engineer for SPHEREx at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, expressed the collective joy, saying, "I am so happy that we're finally in space! It feels really great to have SPHEREx in space." The launch followed unexpected hurdles, including delays and the impact of California wildfires on mission members.

A Look at SPHEREx: The Telescope That Will Map the Universe

The SPHEREx mission, costing $488 million, is generating buzz akin to the excitement that surrounded the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on Christmas Day 2021. Like JWST, SPHEREx—which stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer—operates in the infrared spectrum. This capability allows scientists to observe invisible heat signatures from celestial objects, offering a unique view of the universe.

The difference between SPHEREx and the JWST lies in their design. While JWST focuses on detailed observations of small sky regions, SPHEREx is designed to map the entire celestial sphere in 102 infrared colors for the first time ever. Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, "We are literally mapping the entire celestial sky."

Once SPHEREx reaches its sun-synchronous polar orbit, it will create a complete all-sky map in just six months, collecting critical data on around 450 million galaxies and over 100 million stars in our Milky Way.

Introducing PUNCH: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Sun

Meanwhile, the PUNCH mission, costing $165 million, aims to study the sun's corona and how it generates solar wind. Understanding these processes is essential for improving space weather forecasts, which can affect power grids and astronaut safety on Earth.

PUNCH comprises four small satellites, each weighing approximately 140 pounds (63.5 kg). Among them, one narrow-field imager will create an artificial solar eclipse, providing a high-definition view of the sun's corona, while the other three satellites serve as wide-field imagers. Craig DeForest, PUNCH's principal investigator, explained the need for both types of instruments to capture both bright and faint features in the sun's atmosphere.

Unlike SPHEREx, which will stay shielded from sunlight, PUNCH's satellites will bask in constant sunlight, allowing them to provide continuous data on the dynamic activity of the sun.

A Bright Future for Space Exploration

The flawless launch of the Falcon 9 reflects the success of NASA's Launch Services Program, designed to optimize costs and efficiencies for space missions. As both SPHEREx and PUNCH settle into their orbits, scientists will begin the crucial process of commissioning their equipment.

The PUNCH mission is set to conduct research for at least two years following a 90-day commissioning period, while SPHEREx aims to unveil insights into billions of galaxies. Together, these missions promise to enhance our understanding of the cosmos and the sun's influence on our planet.

Stay tuned as we follow the journeys of these groundbreaking missions—because in space exploration, the best is yet to come!