SPHEREx, roughly the size of a compact car, will orbit Earth in a polar trajectory. Its primary mission is to create a comprehensive 3D map of the entire sky, capturing images in 102 different wavelengths of light. This expansive map will include data on hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies, offering scientists valuable insights into the cosmos.
The mission has three primary objectives. First, SPHEREx will investigate the cosmic phenomenon of inflation, a rapid expansion of the universe that occurred a fraction of a second after the big bang. By measuring the distribution of hundreds of millions of galaxies, researchers aim to deepen their understanding of the physics driving this event.
Secondly, SPHEREx will study the collective glow of galaxies, including light from previously unobserved hidden galaxies. This will help scientists build a more comprehensive picture of the universe's luminous sources.
The third objective is to search for icy granules of water, carbon dioxide, and other life-essential compounds within the Milky Way galaxy. This data will inform scientists about the prevalence and potential incorporation of these elements into newly forming planets.
Launching alongside SPHEREx on the same Falcon 9 rocket will be NASA's PUNCH mission (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere). This mission, led by the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, consists of four small satellites designed to observe the Sun's corona in 3D. Managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, PUNCH will study how the Sun's corona transitions into solar wind.
NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the Kennedy Space Center, is managing the launch services for both SPHEREx and PUNCH.
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