NASA's SPHEREx observatory will provide insights into the events following the Big Bang, measure the glow of distant and nearby galaxies, and explore the Milky Way for the building blocks of life.

NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the SPHEREx astrophysics observatory in late February 2025. SPHEREx, which stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Figure 1. SpaceX

Approximately the size of a subcompact car, SPHEREx will enter a polar orbit around Earth. From this position, it will map the entire sky in 3D by capturing images in all directions, akin to scanning the inside of a globe. The final map will showcase hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies, displayed in 102 distinct colors, each corresponding to a unique wavelength of light. Figure 1 shows SpaceX.

Scientific Goals of SPHEREx

Scientists will use SPHEREx’s all-sky map to pursue three primary scientific objectives. The first is to explore the phenomenon of cosmic inflation—a brief but intense event after the Big Bang when space itself expanded exponentially in less than a second. By mapping the distribution of hundreds of millions of galaxies, SPHEREx will help unravel the forces behind inflation and improve our understanding of the physics involved.

Additionally, the mission will measure the collective glow of galaxies, including light from those hidden and yet to be observed individually. This data will offer a more comprehensive view of the universe's various radiating objects and sources.

Investigating the Building Blocks of the Cosmos

The third primary goal of the mission is to explore the Milky Way for icy particles containing water, carbon dioxide, and other crucial components for life. This research will enable scientists to determine the distribution and quantity of these icy materials in our galaxy, providing insights into their potential role in the formation of new planets.

Other Missions and Oversight

NASA’s PUNCH mission (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) will also launch as a secondary payload aboard the same Falcon 9 rocket as SPHEREx. Led by the Southwest Research Institute’s Boulder office and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, PUNCH consists of four small satellites that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun’s corona to better understand how mass and energy from this region become solar wind. The SPHEREx and PUNCH missions’ launch services are managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center.

Source: NASA

Cite this article:

Janani R (2024), NASA And SpaceX Prepare to Unveil the Universe’s Mysteries with SPHEREx Launch in Early 2025, AnaTechmaz, pp. 140