NASA SPHEREx telescope launched to study universe’s origins

NASA successfully launched a new telescope into space from California on Tuesday, marking the beginning of an exciting mission to explore the origins of the universe and search for hidden reservoirs of water within the Milky Way galaxy. The telescope, known as SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), was carried into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Over the next two years, SPHEREx will gather data on over 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. By creating a detailed three-dimensional map of the cosmos using 102 different colors (wavelengths of light), the telescope will study the evolution and history of galaxies, shedding light on cosmic inflation and the rapid expansion of the universe following the Big Bang.

Phil Korngut, the instrument scientist for SPHEREx at Caltech, explained the mission’s focus on the origins of the universe and the theory of inflation. This theory suggests that the universe underwent a massive expansion in just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, growing from a size smaller than an atom to a trillion-trillion times larger.

SPHEREx will also search for frozen water and other molecules on the surface of interstellar dust grains within our galaxy. These reservoirs of ice are believed to be where most of the universe’s water is formed and stored. By studying molecular clouds, dense regions of gas and dust in interstellar space, the telescope aims to uncover the secrets of water formation in the universe.

In addition to SPHEREx, NASA launched a constellation of satellites for the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which seeks to better understand the solar wind and its effects on Earth and the rest of the solar system. The PUNCH mission involves four small satellites that will observe the sun and its atmosphere, providing valuable insights into solar wind formation and its impact on space weather.

Nicholeen Viall, a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center involved in the PUNCH mission, highlighted the importance of studying the sun’s atmosphere and its transition to the solar wind. By piecing together a three-dimensional view of the solar corona, the mission aims to improve our understanding of the processes that drive space weather and its effects on our technology.

Overall, the launch of SPHEREx and the PUNCH mission represents a significant step forward in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe and better understand the forces at play in our solar system. These missions promise to provide valuable insights into the origins of the cosmos and the dynamics of our own celestial neighborhood.