NASA’s latest space telescope, SPHEREx, has successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It will map the entire sky in infrared light, creating a three-dimensional map of the universe over the next two years to explore cosmic history and structure.

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• NASA’s SPHEREx telescope launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
• SPHEREx will map the entire sky in infrared light, covering 102 wavelengths over the next two years.
• The telescope will use infrared sensors to create a 3D map of the universe, scanning the entire sky four times.
• One of its key objectives is to investigate cosmic inflation, which occurred just after the Big Bang.
• SPHEREx aims to study the distribution of light from hundreds of millions of galaxies to understand the cosmic web shaped by dark matter and gravity.
• Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, SPHEREx will observe the entire sky at once, detecting faint cosmic signatures.
• The telescope’s findings will address fundamental questions in astrophysics and cosmology.
• SPHEREx is paired with the PUNCH mission, which studies the solar corona and solar wind, impacting space weather and satellite operations.
• This joint launch saved at least $15 million in costs, optimizing NASA’s budget while enhancing scientific returns.
• SPHEREx’s data will support future missions and contribute to advancements in exoplanet science, galactic evolution, and more.