NASA’s SPHEREx Infrared Space Telescope to Launch on 28th February
NASA is gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of its latest infrared space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), set to take place on 28th February. The mission, valued at a staggering $488 million, will lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Designed with cutting-edge technology, SPHEREx is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by scanning the entire sky in infrared light. This groundbreaking telescope will gather data from over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars within the Milky Way, focusing on regions of the universe that are traditionally challenging to observe with conventional telescopes.
The Scientific Objectives of SPHEREx
NASA has outlined the primary objectives of SPHEREx, with a key focus on enhancing our understanding of cosmic inflation. This phenomenon refers to the rapid expansion of the universe that occurred within the first second following the Big Bang. By mapping the large-scale structure of the cosmos, SPHEREx will provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies. Additionally, scientists anticipate that the telescope’s data will shed light on the origins of water and essential organic compounds required for life by tracking the presence and distribution of icy molecules in interstellar space.
The Technical Capabilities of SPHEREx
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), SPHEREx weighs approximately 500 kilograms and operates on 270 to 300 watts of power. Equipped with a state-of-the-art spectrophotometer capable of detecting 102 different wavelengths of light, the telescope can identify unique chemical signatures of molecules across vast expanses of space. James Fanson, Project Manager at JPL, has expressed optimism about the potential for unexpected discoveries to emerge from the mission’s data.
Accompanying Mission with PUNCH
In addition to SPHEREx, the upcoming launch will also carry the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, consisting of four satellites dedicated to studying the sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind dynamics. Together, these missions will work in tandem to deepen scientific knowledge about both the distant universe and the immediate solar environment.
For the latest updates and news on space exploration, be sure to follow NASA’s official website and stay informed about the groundbreaking discoveries that await us in the vast expanse of the cosmos.