Through its SPHEREx mission, NASA aims to deepen our knowledge of the universe’s origins and the possibilities of life in our galaxy.
A news conference at noon EST on Friday, January 31, will centre on the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx), where information regarding the telescope and its goals will be provided. Planned for launch no earlier than February 27, SPHEREx aims to provide pivotal insights into cosmic history and life-forming molecules.
SPHEREx will conduct a comprehensive sky survey using near-infrared light to explore galaxy evolution, understand the universe’s structure, and locate water and organic molecules in star and planet-forming regions. The study aims to explore over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars within the Milky Way, providing crucial data for ongoing research.
The spacecraft, developed by BAE Systems, has three concentric cones to minimize heat and light interference and ensure accurate measurements. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute contributed a cryogenic test chamber to the mission.
The briefing will be hosted at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Laurie Leshin, Director of JPL, will give the opening to the JPL director. Domagal-Goldman, Acting Director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division, and JPL project managers James Fanson and Beth Fabinsky. Princ will provide additional insightsipal Investigator Jamie Bock of Caltech, and SPHEREx Integration Engineer Cesar Marin will also participate, sharing further details about the mission’s scope and objectives.
The SPHEREx observatory will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket concurrently with NASA’s PUNCH mission. The collected data will be publicly accessible via Caltech’s IPAC, promoting additional analysis by the global scientific community. Managed by NASA JPL for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate, the SPHEREx mission addresses profound questions about the universe’s creation and the essential components for life.
