The SPHEREx mission, launched by NASA, is aimed at mapping the entire celestial sky to study the formation and evolution of the universe, including what happened in the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang. The $488 million observatory will use spectroscopy to observe the cosmos in 102 different colors in the infrared range, providing key information about the composition, density, temperature, and chemical makeup of stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects.
The mission had been postponed multiple times due to various reasons, including the need for engineers to assess the rocket and components, as well as bad weather at the launch site. The spacecraft was finally launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, along with four smaller satellites for a separate sun-studying mission.
Data gathered by SPHEREx will help researchers study how galaxies form, trace the origins of water in the Milky Way, and unravel the mysteries of the universe after the Big Bang. With its advanced instruments and ability to observe in multiple wavelengths, the observatory is expected to provide valuable insights into the history of the universe and help scientists better understand its origins and evolution.
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