Nasa to launch advanced space telescope, potentially surpassing JWST

SPHEREx, a conical probe in eggshell white, is set to embark on a mission to explore the universe, aiming to map its history and the Epoch of Reionization, as well as study ices in space. The probe, whose full name stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionisation, and Ices Explorer, is slated to join NASA's space telescope lineup in February, provided the mission proceeds as planned.

Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of NASA's Astrophysics Division, explained the unique capabilities of SPHEREx during a press briefing. He compared the role of SPHEREx to that of a panoramic camera, as opposed to the more detailed snapshots provided by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). "Taking a snapshot with JWST is like taking a picture of a person," Domagal-Goldman said. "SPHEREx and other survey missions can capture a wider view, like going into panorama mode to capture a large group of people and everything around them."

SPHEREx will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the mission currently scheduled for liftoff no earlier than February 27. It won’t be alone; the probe will share the ride with NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission. PUNCH consists of four small satellites designed to study the Sun, and both missions will be part of NASA’s Launch Services Program, which connects space missions with suitable commercial launch vehicles.

The duo will lift off from Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Central California. SPHEREx will embark on a two-year mission to map the universe and detect two types of cosmic light—optical and infrared—unless NASA opts to extend the mission beyond its planned duration.