NASA’s SPHEREx Space Telescope Launches to Map the Universe’s Cosmic Glow

NASA has successfully launched its latest space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on March 11, 2025. The $488 million mission aims to map the entire sky using infrared technology to study galaxy evolution, the early universe, and interstellar ice. Unlike telescopes that focus on individual galaxies, SPHEREx will analyze the collective cosmic glow of all galaxies throughout history, providing unique insights into the universe’s expansion and formation.

Key Highlights of the SPHEREx Mission

Mission Purpose & Goals

• Map the entire sky in infrared light over six months.
• Conduct four full-sky surveys over two years from a 400-mile (650 km) polar orbit.
• Investigate how galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years.
• Study the cosmic glow from all galaxies, including the earliest ones after the Big Bang.
• Examine the rapid expansion of the universe in its initial moments.

Scientific Objectives

• Measure infrared light in 102 colors, invisible to human eyes.
• Identify missed sources of cosmic light to provide a more complete picture of the universe.
• Detect water and organic molecules in icy clouds between stars to understand the conditions for planet and life formation.

Mission Design & Features

• SPHEREx weighs 1,110 pounds (500 kg), about the size of a grand piano.
• It features three nested aluminum-honeycomb cones to shield it from heat, resembling a 10-foot (3-meter) protective collar.
• The telescope must stay at an ultra-cold temperature of -350°F (-210°C) to function optimally.

Comparison with Other NASA Telescopes

• Unlike Hubble and James Webb, which focus on specific galaxies, SPHEREx will observe the entire cosmic light background.
• Provides a wide-field, large-scale view rather than detailed galaxy images.

Additional Payloads in the Launch

• The launch also deployed four small NASA satellites (PUNCH) to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind.
• These satellites will operate from a separate polar orbit to examine solar activity and space weather.

Launch Details & Delays

• Initially planned for February 2025, the launch was delayed by two weeks due to rocket issues.
• SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket, releasing SPHEREx into orbit first, followed by the PUNCH satellites.