Back in the Clean Room for Final Testing!

NASA previews SPHEREx, space telescope mission to explore universe’s origins.

The 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...

During payload testing, the SPHEREx team prepared for launch and post-launch operations. In October 2024, we conducted the first Operational Readiness Test (ORT), simulating nominal launch and post-launch events. Such tests validate the adequacy of our procedures and training for mission success.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting late February 2025 for the launch of the agency’s next astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx. Short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, SPHEREx will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The space telescope will detect over 100 colors from hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies. Here’s what astronomers will do with all that color.