Launch of South Korea-US joint space telescope scrubbed minutes before liftoff

SPHEREx is enclosed in its payload fairing ahead of launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Mar 2 2025 Courtesy of NASA — Space telescope SPHEREx is ready for liftoff at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 2, 2025. Courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - The launch of a space telescope co-developed by South Korea and the U.S. was postponed once again on Monday.

According to the Korea Aerospace Administration (KAA), the planned launch of SPHEREx from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was called off about 40 minutes before its liftoff at noon due to bad weather.

Unless unexpected changes get in the way, another attempt is set to take place at noon the following day, weather permitting.

But it looks uncertain as NASA forecasts the rescheduled launch has a "60 percent chance of favorable weather with thick clouds persisting."

Initially scheduled for launch in February, SPHEREx, to be carried by a Falcon 9 rocket from U.S.-based commercial space firm SpaceX, was unable to lift off due to repeated technical glitches with the rocket, causing several delays.

SPHEREx is a medium-sized telescope developed as part of a joint project between South Korea's Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Smaller than NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, its mission is to create a three-dimensional map of space in infrared to explore potential signs of life.

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com

Launch of South Korea-US joint space telescope scrubbed minutes before liftoff

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