BAE Systems Delivers NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory for Launch
January 21, 2025 | BAE SystemsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
BAE Systems has successfully delivered NASA’s Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) Observatory to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The observatory is scheduled to launch in late February alongside NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The minimum two-year mission will conduct the first all-sky spectral surveys and gather valuable data to help answer fundamental questions about the universe.
SPHEREx will use an advanced imager developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to survey the entire sky in near-infrared light. Over the course of four planned surveys, the observatory will create 3D, colored maps of more than 450 million galaxies and millions of stars in the Milky Way. This data will provide the scientific community with novel insights on the formation of the universe in the moments after the Big Bang, help determine how galaxies evolve over time, and seek out water and other life-sustaining molecules in areas where planets are forming.
“The development of SPHEREx represents a remarkable collaborative effort between BAE Systems, JPL, Caltech, and numerous other institutions that helped to make this groundbreaking mission a reality,” said Brian Pramann, SPHEREx program manager for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “After years of complex design, manufacturing, integration and testing efforts, our team can’t wait to see SPHEREx launch.”
Along with its core science objectives, SPHEREx will also identify targets of interest for follow-up studies by observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.
BAE Systems built both the spacecraft bus and telescope for the observatory, in addition to leading spacecraft integration and environmental testing for the mission. The company will also support launch operations and spacecraft commissioning. Caltech’s Dr. Jamie Bock is the mission’s principal investigator.
BAE Systems is proud to continue its longstanding support of NASA’s astrophysics missions, including work on the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope among others.
Suggested Items
Lockheed Martin to Modernize Air Force F-22 Raptor with Advanced Infrared Threat-Detection Sensors
01/22/2025 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin has received a $270 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to integrate a system of next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor.
Rehm Thermal Systems Produces in New Clean Room
01/20/2025 | Rehm Thermal SystemsFor the manufacture of many products, such as semiconductors, cleanrooms are a mandatory requirement for high quality and product safety, as even the smallest impurities can damage the product.
Fonon Technologies Launches Next Generation of DefenseTech Laser Systems
01/20/2025 | BUSINESS WIREFonon Technologies, a marketing and systems integration provider of state-of-the-art laser technologies for material processing and defense infrastructures, proudly announces the launch of its next-generation DefenseTech laser cleaning systems.
Sereact Raises €25M to Make Robots Smart
01/20/2025 | SereactTo capitalise on the incredible commercial traction it has achieved, Sereact announces that it has raised €25m in funding to further accelerate the deployment of its pioneering Vision Language Action Models (VLAM) to robotics.
PCB Market Expanding at 3.62% CAGR, To Reach $100 Billion by 2032
01/17/2025 | EINPresswire.comThe global Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Market was valued at US$72.63 billion in 2023 and is projected to exhibit steady growth over the coming years.