Tune in to IPAC's Double Launch Feature! Lunar Trailblazer and SPHEREx launching this week.
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A Rocket Launch Double Feature

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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:

Liftoff:

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

Post-launch:

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: 

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:

Date: February 25th, 2025
Category: IPAC News
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