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2mo ago

NASA Prepares to Launch SPHEREx Telescope to Study Universe’s Origins

The SPHEREx mission aims to map the cosmos in unprecedented detail, exploring the Big Bang, galaxy formation, and water in the Milky Way.

Image
A semi-frontal view of the SPHEREx observatory is seen during integration and testing at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado, U.S., in this handout photo obtained by Reuters on February 24, 2025. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Handout via REUTERS
An artist’s concept shows SPHEREx in orbit around Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Sectional view of the SPHEREx with cosmic structures in the background.

Overview

  • SPHEREx, an infrared space telescope, is set to launch on February 28, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
  • The mission will survey the entire sky in 102 infrared wavelengths, creating a 3D map of over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way.
  • Scientists aim to investigate cosmic inflation, the rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang, and uncover insights into the universe's large-scale structure.
  • SPHEREx will also search for frozen water and other molecules on interstellar dust grains in the Milky Way, shedding light on the building blocks of life.
  • The launch will include a secondary payload, NASA’s PUNCH mission, which will study the Sun’s corona and solar wind to enhance understanding of space weather.