Short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, SPHEREx aims to capture millions of stars and galaxies in 102 colors, creating a unique 3D map to uncover clues about the universe’s origins. This video features Farah Alibay, a SPHEREx systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Brian Pramann, SPHEREx program manager at BAE Systems. Learn about the special facilities required for SPHEREx’s critical environmental tests, including thermal, acoustic, vibration, and electromagnetic interference and compatibility testing. NASA is targeting Feb. 27, 2025, for the launch of SPHEREx, which will lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Go behind the scenes with the team working on NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope as they talk through their rigorous testing process.
NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), the agency’s newest space telescope. This will lift off with another NASA mission, Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH, which will study the Sun’s solar wind.
Read MoreWe are less than 15 days away from launching SPHEREx, a mission that will observe hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies in infrared light, a range of wavelengths not visible to the human eye. Tune in as we speak with experts from the mission, both at Vandenberg Space Force Base and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, and see the space observatory up close and speak with experts...
Read MoreWhere is all the water that may form oceans on distant planets and moons? The SPHEREx astrophysics mission will search the galaxy and take stock.
Read MoreNASA previews SPHEREx, space telescope mission to explore universe’s origins.
Read MoreThe SPHEREx Observatory has completed standalone operations in the West High Bay at Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The observatory is ready to begin integrated operations with rideshare partner mission PUNCH and the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle, readying for launch in a few weeks. Photo taken at Astrotech Space Operations Facility, VSFB by BAE...
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