NASA has launched its latest space telescope, the Spherex observatory, to embark on a mission that promises to map the vast expanse of the cosmos like never before. The observatory took off aboard a SpaceX rocket from California and is set to traverse over Earth’s poles. Accompanying the mission are four compact satellites dedicated to studying the sun.
The Spherex mission, which comes with a price tag of $488 million, is designed to provide groundbreaking insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies over billions of years. It will also delve into the rapid expansion of the universe immediately following its inception. In addition to these ambitious goals, Spherex will focus on the Milky Way, seeking out water and other life-sustaining elements in the icy regions between stars, where new solar systems are born.
Weighing in at around 1,110 pounds, akin to a grand piano, the cone-shaped Spherex is equipped to map the entire sky using its infrared capabilities and an expansive field of view. Over a span of two years, Spherex will conduct four comprehensive surveys of the sky, orbiting Earth pole to pole at a distance of 400 miles above the planet.
Unlike the Hubble and Webb space telescopes, known for their detailed focus on individual galaxies, Spherex will observe the integrated cosmic glow produced by millions of galaxies, including the earliest that emerged post-Big Bang. According to Jamie Bock from the California Institute of Technology, the mission’s lead scientist, this method offers a novel perspective on the universe, offering glimpses of light sources possibly overlooked in previous studies.
Through this endeavor, scientists aim to decipher the light signatures from ancient galaxies to understand their origins. While the Big Bang itself won’t be visible, its consequential phenomena will be studied, shedding light on the universe’s beginnings.
The telescope will use infrared sensors capable of detecting 102 colors that are not visible to the human eye, creating an unprecedentedly colorful map of the cosmos. As explained by deputy project manager Beth Fabinsky of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it’s akin to observing the universe through rainbow-tinted glasses.
To maintain the efficiency of its infrared detectors at extremely low temperatures—minus 350 degrees Fahrenheit—Spherex features a unique design. Reflecting the appearance of a 10-foot protective collar, it includes three aluminum-honeycomb cones layered to shield it from the sun and Earth’s heat.
In addition to the groundbreaking telescope, SpaceX’s Falcon rocket also launched a set of NASA’s Punch satellites. Positioned in their own polar orbit, these satellites will study the sun’s corona and the subsequent solar winds.
The launch, originally scheduled earlier, faced a delay of two weeks due to rocket-related and other technical challenges.
