NASA successfully launched its latest telescope, SPHEREx, on March 12, 2025, as part of its mission to explore the cosmos and search for key components of life within our own Milky Way galaxy. The launch occurred from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission, estimated to last over two years, aims to collect extensive astronomical data, charting the skies with unprecedented precision.
SPHEREx, short for SpectroPhotometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Galactic Exploration, will work diligently to gather data on more than 450 million galaxies and over 100 million stars situated within the Milky Way. After initial proposals fell flat, it was finally accepted for development by NASA on February 4, 2019, with projected costs around $488 million. The probes launched alongside SPHEREx share simultaneous pathways, forming part of NASA's broader strategy to maximize scientific returns from space missions.
Designed for optimal functionality, SPHEREx is uniquely equipped with three interlocking shields, which work to protect its sensitive instruments from the sun's heat. The telescope itself measures about 3.2 meters, roughly the size of a Mini Cooper, and operates at temperatures plummeting to around -210 degrees Celsius. This extraordinary cooling is necessary to help detect faint cosmic radiation more effectively, ensuring the telescope remains functional amid the extremes of space.
With its impressive capabilities, the SPHEREx telescope will capture light through infrared wavelengths, allowing it to analyze the cosmos by breaking down this light to understand the properties of celestial bodies. By utilizing spectroscopic techniques, it can determine the composition, temperature, density, and movement of various astronomical entities, providing insights on their nature and behavior.
A significant goal of SPHEREx's mission is to investigate the origins of the universe's expansion, known as cosmic inflation. By mapping the distribution of galaxies throughout the universe’s lifespan, the telescope can illuminate the beginnings of cosmic inflation and how it contributed to the universe’s development.
Notably, the telescope will also focus on identifying regions rich in water and organic materials inside gas and dust clouds, particularly in areas where stars form, thereby shedding light on the fundamental building blocks of life. Although the quest to understand life’s origins is longstanding, SPHEREx brings with it renewed hope and excitement, targeting the underlying elements necessary for life, like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
NASA's Director of the Science Mission Directorate, Dr. Nicky Fox, emphasized the co-launch of SPHEREx and another telescope, named "Bunch," stating their synergistic approach aims to maximize scientific results efficiently. Dr. Fox remarked, "This collaborative mission allows us to send more science to space at lower costs." Both probes will orbit the Earth, with SPHEREx positioned approximately 650 kilometers above the surface.
Beyond just hunting for life, SPHEREx’s inclusion of advanced photometric measurements seeks to create the most detailed spectral map of the night sky, observing the universe’s composition across 102 colors. Such comprehensive data is invaluable for astrophysicists eager to unravel more secrets about the galaxy and cosmos beyond.
Despite facing initial obstacles, including postponements of its launch date, the telescope was finally cleared for its voyage after successfully completing pre-launch inspections. At its heart, SPHEREx will conduct complete sky surveys every six months, offering unprecedented opportunities to monitor shifting cosmic phenomena.
Dr. Marc Kaflein, the Deputy Director of the Science Mission Office at NASA, echoed excitement about the potential discoveries on horizon. He explained, "Every minute, NASA science missions work to explore the universe at various scales, helping us truly understand the cosmos we inhabit and the sun keeping our planet alive." With expectations running high, the scientific community eagerly awaits the revelations from this groundbreaking mission.