Two NASA science missions set to ride a Falcon 9 rocket into space from the West Coast also are providing a lesson in patience.
With less than two hours in the countdown, SpaceX confirmed the postponement of the launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Saturday afternoon. Liftoff had been planned for 7:10 p.m.
The two-stage rocket will carry satellites to boost knowledge about the universe and sun in a rideshare mission.
“Standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of @NASA‘s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions for teams to continue vehicle checkouts ahead of liftoff,” program officials announced on X.
They said they would release a new launch date upon receiving confirmation from the Western Range.
Sunday had been listed as a backup date, but officials remained mum about how much time the team might need to complete the checkouts and fix any possible problems.
They later confirmed the next launch attempt would not occur Sunday.
In the past two weeks, the team has encountered a series of troubles that bedeviled efforts to get the rocket off the ground and place the satellites in space.
Officials outlined some of the challenges including technical troubles, weather and scheduling due to other Vandenberg activities, during a press conference Friday.
When it ultimately lifts off, the Vandenberg rocket is set to deliver the satellite known as SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer). The space telescope will map the universe seeking signs of key ingredients for life in the galaxy.
Also hitching a ride will be the PUNCH mission (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) with four suitcase-size satellites. The quartet of craft will observe the sun’s corona as it transitions into the solar wind, which can affect power grids and communication systems on Earth.
Once cleared for departure, the two-stage rocket’s launch will be followed about eight minutes later by the first-stage booster’s return to Vandenberg, landing just west of its departure site at Space Launch Complex-4.
This will be the third launch and landing for the first-stage booster tasked for the delivery of the five NASA satellites.
To watch the liftoff and landing in person, the Lompoc Valley has multiple locations offering views of the launch pad.
Those sites include the peak of Harris Grade Road, Ocean Avenue west of Lompoc’s city limits, and around Vandenberg Village, including near the intersection of Moonglow and Stardust roads.
The SPHEREx and PUNCH live launch broadcast will stream live at NASA+ and NASA’s YouTube channel.