NASA has successfully launched its newest space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 11, 2025. This $488 million mission is designed to map the entire sky using infrared technology, allowing scientists to explore galaxy evolution, the early universe, and interstellar ice. Unlike traditional telescopes that focus on individual galaxies, SPHEREx will examine the combined cosmic glow of all galaxies throughout history, providing us with valuable insights into how the universe has expanded and formed.
Key Highlights of the SPHEREx Mission
Mission Purpose & Goals
- Map the entire sky in infrared light over six months.
- Conduct four full-sky surveys over two years from a 400-mile (650 km) polar orbit.
- Investigate how galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years.
- Study the cosmic glow from all galaxies, including the earliest ones after the Big Bang.
- Examine the rapid expansion of the universe in its initial moments.
Scientific Objectives
- Measure infrared light in 102 colors, invisible to human eyes.
- Identify missed sources of cosmic light to provide a more complete picture of the universe.
- Detect water and organic molecules in icy clouds between stars to understand the conditions for planet and life formation.
Mission Design & Features
SPHEREx tips the scales at 1,110 pounds (500 kg), which is roughly the size of a grand piano. It’s designed with three nested aluminum-honeycomb cones that act as a heat shield, giving it the look of a 10-foot (3-meter) protective collar. To work its magic, the telescope needs to maintain a super chilly temperature of -350°F (-210°C).