SPHEREx facts for kids
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SPHEREx on a work stand, being prepared for launch
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| Names | Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer |
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| Mission type | Astrophysics |
| Operator | NASA |
| Mission duration | Planned: 25 months Elapsed: 1 year, 3 months, 14 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Inc. (Previously Ball Aerospace & Technologies) |
| Launch mass | 178 kg (392 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 March 2025, 03:10:00 UTC (11 March 2025, 8:10 pm PDT) |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-4E |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit |
| Altitude | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Inclination | 97° |
| Period | 90 minutes |
| Main telescope | |
| Diameter | 20 cm (7.9 in) |
| Wavelengths | Near-infrared |
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Explorers Program
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SPHEREx (which stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a special space observatory. It uses near-infrared light to study the universe. Its main job is to create a map of the entire sky. This map will measure the near-infrared light from about 450 million galaxies.
NASA chose SPHEREx in February 2019 as its next Medium-Class Explorers mission. SPHEREx launched on March 12, 2025. It rode into space on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. It launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission also carried small satellites called PUNCH. The lead scientist for SPHEREx is James Bock from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
What is SPHEREx?
Mission Goals
SPHEREx uses a special camera called a spectrophotometer. This camera will map the entire sky. It measures near-infrared light from 0.75 to 5.0 micrometers. The telescope has one main instrument and no moving parts. It will map the whole sky four times during its 25-month mission. It uses 96 different color bands. This is much more detailed than older sky maps. A key part of its technology is a linear variable filter.
SPHEREx will sort galaxies by their redshift accuracy. It will categorize about 450 million galaxies. It matches the light it measures to known galaxy types. SPHEREx will look for clues about the early universe. It will study how the universe expanded very quickly (called inflation). It will also explore how galaxies first formed and changed over time. Another goal is to find out where water came from in planetary systems.
SPHEREx will work with other space telescopes. These include the Euclid and the planned Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. SPHEREx will give very exact redshift information for nearby galaxies. This data, combined with measurements from Euclid and Nancy Grace Roman, will help scientists map dark matter. Dark matter is a mysterious substance around galaxies. SPHEREx's measurements of nearby galaxies also help study inflation. This gives new evidence about how the universe began.
The Spacecraft and Telescope
The SPHEREx telescope has three mirrors. Its main opening is 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) wide. It can see a wide area of the sky. It has six special cameras that use mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) detectors. Each camera is covered with a linear variable filter. This filter changes the color of light it sees along one side of the camera. SPHEREx takes many pictures to get a full spectrum. It moves slightly to measure the same object at different wavelengths.
BAE Systems Inc. built the SPHEREx spacecraft and telescope. Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed the science instruments. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute helped by providing a special cold test chamber.
Mission History
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The idea for SPHEREx was first given to NASA in December 2014. In July 2015, NASA chose it for further study. This was part of the Small Explorer program. The detailed study report was given in July 2016, but it was not chosen then.
A better version of SPHEREx was proposed in December 2016. This time it was for the Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) program. In August 2017, SPHEREx became a finalist. Two other missions were also finalists. Each team received money to improve their mission plans.
SPHEREx was chosen as the winner in February 2019. This meant the mission could start building its parts and prepare for launch. Medium-Class Explorer missions have a cost limit of $250 million, not including the launch rocket.
In January 2021, NASA announced that SPHEREx was moving to Phase C. This meant the early designs were approved. Teams could start building the final hardware and software. NASA chose SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to launch SPHEREx. The launch cost was $98.8 million. In August 2022, NASA announced that four small satellites, called PUNCH, would launch with SPHEREx.
The mission launched successfully on March 12, 2025. SPHEREx saw its first light (meaning it took its first images) in April 2025. Regular science operations began on May 1, 2025.
See also
In Spanish: SPHEREx para niños
