NASA has launched its latest space telescope, SPHEREx, on a groundbreaking mission to explore the origins of the universe and search for hidden water reservoirs in the Milky Way. Accompanying it on the journey is PUNCH, a satellite constellation dedicated to studying the Sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind. The two missions lifted off together aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 11.
Mapping the Universe in 102 Colors
SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, will conduct an all-sky survey every six months, using infrared light to map over 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. This mission aims to provide new insights into how galaxies formed and evolved over time.
One of SPHEREx’s main objectives is to study cosmic inflation—the rapid expansion of the universe that took place a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, nearly 13.8 billion years ago. By measuring the distribution of galaxies, SPHEREx will help scientists understand the echoes of this inflationary period.
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Another critical aspect of the mission involves measuring the total glow of light from all galaxies in the universe, including those too faint to be detected by other telescopes. The spacecraft will split infrared light into 102 different wavelengths, revealing the composition and distance of cosmic objects.
Searching for the Ingredients of Life
SPHEREx will also focus on identifying water ice and essential molecules like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide within molecular clouds—dense regions of gas and dust where stars and planets form. Scientists believe that frozen water bound to dust grains in these clouds played a crucial role in delivering water to planets, including Earth.
By locating these hidden reservoirs of water and other life-essential compounds, the mission could provide clues about how habitable planets form. The telescope will work alongside other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, by flagging areas of interest for more detailed studies.
Riding Along
Alongside SPHEREx, NASA launched the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission, a fleet of four small satellites designed to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind. The Sun constantly emits charged particles in a continuous stream known as the solar wind, which influences space weather and can affect satellites, power grids, and communications on Earth.
The PUNCH satellites will observe how the Sun’s corona transitions into solar wind and track solar storms, which can cause disruptions on Earth. Each satellite is equipped with a specialized camera that will work together to create a 3D map of the solar wind’s evolution.
A Strategic Launch and Mission Setup
Both SPHEREx and PUNCH were placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, ensuring that they maintain a consistent position relative to the Sun. This is crucial for SPHEREx, as it allows the telescope to shield itself from sunlight and conduct precise infrared observations.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California manages the SPHEREx mission, with contributions from scientists across the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan. Data collected by SPHEREx will be processed and archived at the NASA-IPAC Infrared Science Archive, making it publicly available for research worldwide.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Research Institute in Texas leads the PUNCH mission, with the Naval Research Laboratory contributing specialized imaging instruments. The mission is part of NASA’s heliophysics research initiative, aimed at understanding the Sun’s influence on the solar system.
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With these two missions now in orbit, scientists are preparing for groundbreaking discoveries. SPHEREx is expected to offer valuable insights into the early universe and the building blocks of life, while PUNCH will improve our understanding of solar activity and its effects on Earth. “Questions like ‘How did we get here?’ and ‘Are we alone?’ have been asked by humans for all of history,” said James Fanson, SPHEREx project manager at JPL. “I think it’s incredible that we are alive at a time when we have the scientific tools to actually start to answer them.”