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#1 2021-02-06 07:56:39
- tahanson43206
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- Registered: 2018-04-27
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SPHEREx near-Infrared probe to launch on SpaceX
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-picks-e … 00107.html
The mission, called SPHEREx, will cost NASA about $98.8 million.
SPHEREx is a space telescope that NASA said would survey the sky in near-infrared light, which the human eye can't see. The data that it collects would help astronomers understand the evolution of the universe and the creation of galaxies, it said.
The mission was due to launch in June 2024, and would blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, NASA said.
The mission would search for water and organic molecules in areas where stars are formed from gas and dust, and find out if new planets are forming around stars, NASA said.
Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in 2019 the mission would "deliver an unprecedented galactic map containing 'fingerprints' from the first moments in the universe's history."
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#2 2021-02-06 19:06:05
- SpaceNut
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Re: SPHEREx near-Infrared probe to launch on SpaceX
Here is another article SpaceX secures contract to launch NASA's SPHEREx astrophysics mission
The 329-lb. (178 kilograms) craft will hitch a ride to space aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, set to launch as early as June 2024, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
SPHEREx is a space observatory and the latest medium-class craft under NASA's Explorers program of astrophysics missions. NASA's other medium-class craft within this set of missions includes the planet-hunting craft TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and ICON (The Ionospheric Connection Explorer), which studies Earth's ionosphere — the region in our planet's atmosphere where Earth weather meets space weather.The probe is set to spend two years scanning the skies in near-infrared light, completing a full survey every six months. "It will deliver an unprecedented galactic map containing 'fingerprints' from the first moments in the universe's history. And we'll have new clues to one of the greatest mysteries in science: What made the universe expand so quickly less than a nanosecond after the big bang?"
This mission will cost NASA about $98.8 million, including this launch service with SpaceX, in addition to other "mission-related costs," according to NASA JPL. The mission is funded by the Astrophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, which is located at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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#3 2026-05-15 15:03:35
- tahanson43206
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Re: SPHEREx near-Infrared probe to launch on SpaceX
Follow up 2026/05/15 ... I wonder what happened to this launch? There were two posts in 2021 and nothing after.
So I asked Google:
AI Overview
Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of ...Launched in March 2025, NASA’s SPHEREx infrared telescope successfully entered orbit, opened its eyes on March 18, 2025, and completed its first full-sky map in December 2025, performing excellently. It is currently in a two-year mission, mapping the entire sky in 102 infrared colors to study galaxy evolution, cosmic inflation, and the origin of water.NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
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Key Updates on SPHEREx (as of early 2026):
Performance: The telescope works as planned, using passive cooling to achieve low-temperature infrared observation without consumables.
Results: By December 2025, it completed its first full-sky mosaic, creating a comprehensive 3D map of hundreds of millions of galaxies.
Scientific Activity: In December 2025, SPHEREx observed the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, detecting organic molecules, demonstrating its capability for specialized studies alongside its survey mission.
Upcoming Work: The mission continues to scan the sky, with plans for at least three more comprehensive all-sky surveys to increase data sensitivity.NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
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SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit, designed to map the cosmos in 3D using spectroscopy to determine the composition of cosmic objects.NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
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NASA’s SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky
May 1, 2025 — It observes 102 wavelengths, or colors, of infrared light, which are undetectable to the human eye. Through a technique called spe...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory Completes First Cosmic Map Like ...
Dec 18, 2025 — Each day it takes about 3,600 images along one circular strip of the sky, and as the days pass and the planet moves around the Sun...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
6 Things to Know About SPHEREx, NASA’s Newest Space Telescope
Jan 31, 2025 — 6 Things to Know About SPHEREx, NASA's Newest Space Telescope * The SPHEREx space telescope will shed light on a cosmic phenomenon...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)
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#4 2026-05-15 15:22:20
- tahanson43206
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Re: SPHEREx near-Infrared probe to launch on SpaceX
Google had more to offer as well:
Web resultsSPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of ...NASA Science (.gov)https://science.nasa.gov › blogs › spherexFeb 4, 2026 — NASA's SPHEREx mission turned its infrared gaze on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in December 2025, adding to the deep pool of information the ...Read moreMissing: probe | Show results with: probeNASA's SPHEREx telescope completes its 1st cosmic map ...Spacehttps://www.space.com › Astronomy › GalaxiesDec 22, 2025 — Beginning operations in May, it took SPHEREx until this month to complete its first map of the entire sky over our planet. During its primary ...Read moreNASA's SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire ...SPHERExhttps://spherex.caltech.edu › news › nasa-s-spherex-space...May 1, 2025 — By mapping the entire sky, the mission will provide new insights about what happened in the first fraction of a second after the big bang.Read moreMissing: probe | Show results with: probeSPHERExNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)https://www.jpl.nasa.gov › missions › spherexSPHEREx is a planned two-year mission that will survey the sky in optical as well as near-infrared light which, though not visible to the human eye, serves as ...Read moreSPHERExWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › SPHERExIn February 2019, SPHEREx was selected by NASA for its next Medium-Class Explorers mission, beating out two competing mission concepts: Arcus and FINESSE.Read moreOverviewMissionSpacecraft/telescopeHistorySPHEREx Mission: Mapping the Universe in Unprecedented ...Aerospace Americahttps://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org › institute › spherex-mi...Sep 8, 2025 — Early observations reveal the mission's transformative potential. Single exposures capture distant galaxies in exquisite spectral detail, while ...Read moreNASA Discovers Vast 'Cosmic Glacier' Region Hidden ...Vision Timeshttps://www.visiontimes.com › World6 hours ago — Using its specialized infrared observation capabilities, the SPHEREx probe detected large amounts of ice molecules composed of water, carbon ...Read moreVideosHow NASA Will Observe the Universe with SPHERExYouTube · NASA ScienceFeb 14, 20253:12SPHEREx maps the entire sky in over 100 distinct infrared colors to understand the origins of water, galaxies, and the universe.NASA's SPHEREx Just Mapped the Entire Sky — The First ...YouTube · Dr Brian KeatingNov 21, 20251:00:2610 key moments in this videoSPHEREx and PUNCH Science Overview News ConferenceYouTube · NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryFeb 25, 202550:15Spherex and Punch are two NASA missions launching together to explore the universe in very different ways. Spherex will map the entire sky in infrared, while Punch will study the sun's outer atmosphere.View allPeople also askIs SPHEREx more powerful than James Webb?Did SPHEREx make contact?Has SPHEREx been launched?How long will the SPHEREx mission last?Web resultsNASA's SPHEREx space telescope makes its debutAstronomy Magazinehttps://www.astronomy.com › observing › nasas-sphere...May 6, 2025 — The space-based observatory, launched at the end of March, released its first set of images, in which a cloud of dust performs a disappearing act.Read moreImagesSpectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of ...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)NASA's SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky ...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)NASA's SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky ...NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)Show more imagesPeople also search forSpherex infrared probe nasa what happened todaySpherex infrared probe nasa what happened to earthNASA SPHERExSPHEREx mission NASANasa spherex launchSPHEREx imagesSPHEREx dataSPHEREx NewsPage Navigation
That blob was nicely formatted on the Google Search page, but all that nice formatting disappeared on it's way to the forum.
We have so few NewMars members now, I doubt anyone has time or the energy needed to produce a nicely formatted report on the achievements of the SphereX team. However, if we ** do ** have someone with the time, energy and the interest to work up a nicely formatted report, it sure looks as though the SphereX team has been productive!
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