The observatory launched alongside NASA's Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Key Technologies Behind the SPHEREx Observatory
NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory successfully launched with a BAE Systems-built spacecraft bus and telescope from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Credit: NASA) BAE Systems built the spacecraft bus and telescope for the mission, along with leading observatory integration and environmental testing. SPHEREx is also equipped with the company's RAD750® single-board computer, the core of the command and data handling subsystem that is used to control the spacecraft and transmit data.
Mission Goals of the SPHEREx Observatory
Over the course of a minimum two-year mission, SPHEREx Observatory will conduct four all-sky spectral surveys, observing the distribution of more than 450 million unique galaxies and delivering a 3D map of the universe in 102 infrared colours. These surveys will provide an abundance of new data on key astronomical questions: How did cosmic inflation in the moments following the Big Bang shape the universe today? What can the glowing light of distant galaxies teach us about how they formed? How abundant and important are life-sustaining ingredients like water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia in planet-formation?
Support and Collaboration in the SPHEREx Observatory Mission
"The launch of SPHEREx Observatory is a remarkable achievement," said Bonnie Patterson, deputy vice president and general manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. "This observatory will help us look back in time to answer significant questions about how the universe formed and the phenomena that continue to evolve it today. We are proud to be part of the team that made this mission possible."
Future Observations and SPHEREx Observatory Contributions
In addition to its primary missions, SPHEREx Observatory will also identify targets of interest for additional observations by the James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories. BAE Systems assisted in launch operations and will continue to support spacecraft commissioning over the coming months. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the mission, and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) developed the primary imaging payload. Caltech's Dr. Jamie Bock is the mission's principal investigator.
BAE Systems’ Continued Support of SPHEREx Observatory and Other NASA Missions
SPHEREx Observatory continues BAE Systems' long support of NASA's astrophysics missions, including contributions to the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-Ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The company is also working to mature technologies for NASA's future Habitable Worlds Observatory.
