NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies

A new NASA space observatory is scheduled to launch into orbit this week on a lofty mission to map more than 450 million galaxies. The SPHEREx mission (short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) will map the entire sky four times over two years, offering scientists a chance to study how galaxies form and evolve, and providing a window into how the universe came to be. NASA’s SPHEREx observatory undergoes testing at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colo., in 2024. BAE Systems / NASA / JPL-Caltech “It’s going to answer a fundamental question: How did we get here?” Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the astrophysics division at NASA headquarters, said in a recent news briefing. The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was paused for the night less than an hour before a scheduled 8:10 p.m. PT takeoff window on Monday. The launch window was pushed to 8:10 p.m. PT on Tuesday, NASA said. "Due to unfavorable weath ... Read full article.