NASA’s SPHEREx satellite, a compact observatory designed to map the universe in 3D, is set to launch in late February 2025 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SPHEREx will scan millions of stars and galaxies, offering new insights into the cosmos.

The mission will explore cosmic inflation, measure the glow of distant galaxies, and search for life-essential elements like water and carbon dioxide in the Milky Way. Developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the satellite will complete two all-sky maps annually during its two-year mission.

The launch will also carry NASA’s PUNCH mission, a constellation of four small satellites designed to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind. Together, these missions represent a significant step forward in understanding both the universe’s origins and the Sun’s impact on Earth’s space environment.

Photo Credit: BAE Systems