A Rocket Launch Double Feature

Written by Marcy Harbut

Lunar Trailblazer and SPHEREx are two NASA satellites scheduled for back-to-back launches the week of February 24! 

IPAC is an integral partner for both missions, providing both support for the science teams and the science community. 

The SPHEREx Science Data Center at IPAC will perform scientific data processing and analysis. Data releases to the science user community and archiving will be carried out through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA).

IPAC also leads the Mission Operation System effort for Lunar Trailblazer and is home to the Mission Operations center.

It’s an exciting week for IPAC and for the science community. We hope you’ll join us online in watching these two exciting missions begin their voyages of scientific discovery!

Here’s where you can watch the action and excitement leading up to liftoff—and beyond!

Lunar Trailblazer

Lunar Trailblazer (LTB) will enable a better understanding of the Moon’s water and geology by determining the form, abundance, and distribution of water across the lunar surface.

Pre-launch:

• Learn more about the mission: IPAC Mission News, Caltech’s site & NASA Factsheet

• Tuesday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET: Lunar science and technology media teleconference featuring Principal Investigator Bethany Ehlmann of Caltech!

• Check out the predicted launch trajectory in NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System app (search for Lunar Trailblazer): https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/#/home

• Follow and engage on social media: @LunarTrailblazr on X and @CaltechIPAC on X.

Liftoff:

• Wednesday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. Live launch coverage on NASA+ and YouTube

Post-launch:

• Get Mission Updates on Caltech’s Lunar Trailblazer website

• Check NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer blog

• Follow and engage on social media: @LunarTrailblazr on X and @CaltechIPAC on X.

• Check out the LTB mission image gallery

SPHEREx

The SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) mission will improve our understanding of how the universe evolved and search for key ingredients for life in our galaxy.

Pre-launch: 

• Watch this Dimensions of IPAC video about SPHEREx

• Browse past media releases about SPHEREx

• Tuesday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET: Science Overview News Conference on NASA+

• Thursday, Feb. 27, 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET: Pre-Launch News Conference on NASA+

• Follow the countdown coverage on the SPHEREx blog

• Follow and engage on social media: @CaltechIPAC on X, @NASAJPL on X, @NASAUniverse on X, and @NASAKennedy, and @NASALSP (NASA Launch Services Program) on X

February 28 / Liftoff:

• 9 a.m. PT / Noon ET: Launch preview live stream on NASA+

• 6:15 p.m. PT / 9:15 p.m. ET: Live launch coverage begins on NASA+ and the agency’s YouTube channel

Post-launch:

• Get updates on the SPHEREx blog

• Check out the SPHEREx mission image gallery