NASA's SPHEREx, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is set to revolutionize our understanding of the Universe through a two-year infrared survey of the sky. Operating at 420 miles altitude, it will analyze 102 wavelengths, mapping the chemical compositions of asteroids, star-forming clouds, and galaxies. The mission, costing $488 million, aims to answer pivotal questions about the Universe's origins, galaxy formation, and the potential for extraterrestrial life, marking a significant advancement in astrophysical research.
"SPHEREx is going to produce an enormous three-dimensional map of the entire night sky, and with this immense and novel dataset, we're going to address some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics."
"Using a technique called linear variable filter spectroscopy, we're going to produce 102 maps in 102 wavelengths every six months, and our baseline mission is to do this four times over the course of two years."
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