SphereX Space Telescope Launch Delayed by One Day

SPHEREx Launch Rescheduled to 12:09 PM on March 1
Final Preparations Complete; Awaiting Liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base

The Space Aviation Agency announced on the 26th that the launch date of the space telescope SPHEREx, jointly developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has been postponed by one day from 12:09 PM on the 28th (local time 7:09 PM on the 27th) to 12:09 PM on March 1 (local time 7:09 PM on February 28).

SpearX Conceptual Image. Provided by Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute

SPHEREx is scheduled to be launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle, but it was confirmed that more time is required for the Falcon 9's takeoff preparation stage. SPHEREx has completed its final preparations for launch and is on standby, with the launch planned from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.

The SPHEREx space telescope will separate from the launch vehicle 42 minutes after launch and will attempt its first communication with the Troll ground station center in Antarctica 43 minutes after launch.