Here’s how to watch NASA's SPHEREx mission launch this weekend, which aims to serve as a cosmic detective.

      NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), a space telescope, is positioned on a work stand in preparation for prelaunch activities at the Astrotech Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

      This weekend promises to be thrilling for space enthusiasts, featuring not only a moon landing attempt but also the launch of a new NASA astrophysics mission, SPHEREx. This space telescope will explore the origins of the universe, examining how everything that exists transitioned from a tiny point moments after the big bang to a massive scale.

      SPHEREx and PUNCH Launch (Official NASA Broadcast)

      What to anticipate from the launch

      The SPHEREx mission is set to lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday night. This launch is significant as it includes not just one NASA mission, but two; in addition to the SPHEREx spacecraft, the rocket will also transport four small spacecraft designed to study the sun, known as PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere). Both missions are destined for low-Earth orbit, allowing for a combined launch that optimizes costs and resources while generating additional excitement for space fans.

      "This is essentially two for the price of one," stated Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of NASA's Astrophysics Division, during a press conference.

      Upon its launch, SPHEREx has an ambitious goal: to survey the entire sky across numerous infrared wavelengths, mapping the distribution of galaxies on a large scale. By tracing their locations back in time, scientists aim to gain insights into the universe's earliest moments following the big bang and understand its evolution over time.

      SPHEREx is primarily intended for astrophysical research, which examines the universe on a vast scale. In contrast to telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope that capture detailed images of distant objects, SPHEREx will provide broader views of extensive areas of the sky, offering a wider context for the specific objects analyzed by Webb.

      "We have the privilege of addressing three fundamental questions in astrophysics: How does the universe operate? How did we come to exist within that universe? And are we alone in this universe?” said Domagal-Goldman. “These are significant questions that cannot be resolved with a single instrument or even one mission. We require a comprehensive fleet to tackle these inquiries, and with each new telescope we deploy, we ensure it contributes uniquely to that fleet compared to what we have created previously."

      How to view the launch

      The SPHEREx launch is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. ET (7:09 p.m. PT) on Friday, February 28, with coverage commencing at 9:15 p.m. ET (6:15 p.m. PT).

      You can watch NASA's livestream of the launch via the video embedded at the top of this page or by visiting NASA's YouTube page for the event. For those interested in more direct information from NASA, the public is invited to register for virtual attendance, although registration is not needed to view the stream on YouTube.

      Georgina has been the space writer at Digital Trends for six years, focusing on human space exploration and planetary...

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