NASA's SPHEREx mission is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the universe with its two-year endeavor to map the entire sky four times, producing the highest-resolution color maps ever created. This ambitious project will collect data on over 450 million galaxies and millions of stars, offering insights into cosmic expansion since the Big Bang and the evolution of ancient galaxies.
Alberto Conti, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems, expressed excitement about the mission, stating, "SPHEREx will allow us to look back into the early universe and provide new insights into how and why it came to be as it is." The mission will also identify targets for further study by advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope.
BAE Systems is responsible for developing the satellite bus and constructing the mission's telescope, collaborating closely with Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Following rigorous testing to ensure performance in space conditions, the observatory is now in final preparations for launch.