NASA’s SPHEREx mission is poised to launch soon, aiming to map the universe’s water distribution within molecular clouds. This mission will provide valuable data on the presence of water ice and other pre-biotic molecules essential for life. Utilizing advanced near-infrared spectroscopy, SPHEREx seeks to enhance our understanding of water’s role in planet formation.
Earlier missions, such as the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), detected less water vapor than anticipated, leading scientists to propose that a significant amount of water exists in ice form within molecular clouds. SPHEREx advances this research with its improved survey capabilities and technological precision.
Mission Objectives
SPHEREx is designed to achieve two primary scientific goals. Firstly, it aims to map the sky in near-infrared wavelengths, capturing spectra from approximately 450 million galaxies. This extensive mapping will provide insights into the universe’s expansion and the formation and evolution of galaxies. Secondly, the mission focuses on probing molecular clouds to quantify water ice and other frozen pre-biotic molecules. Understanding the distribution of these ices is crucial for comprehending how oceans and potentially habitable environments arise on planets.
Technological Capabilities
Equipped with a single instrument and one observing mode, SPHEREx utilizes infrared absorption spectroscopy to detect unique spectral signatures of ices. This technology allows the spacecraft to generate spectra for 8 to 9 million sources, significantly increasing the number of available ice absorption spectra.
“SPHEREx’s ability to reproduce almost all of the spectral structures seen by more powerful telescopes like JWST is a testament to its precise design,”
explains Gary Melnick, a senior astronomer and member of the SPHEREx science team.
Collaboration with Other Telescopes
SPHEREx will work in tandem with other observatories, notably the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). When SPHEREx identifies particularly intriguing locations, JWST will conduct more detailed follow-up observations with higher spectral resolving power and access to wavelengths beyond SPHEREx’s capabilities.
“These two telescopes could form a highly effective partnership,”
adds Melnick, highlighting the complementary strengths of both missions.
By mapping over 8,000 molecular clouds in the Milky Way and targeting regions like the Monoceros R2 Molecular Cloud, SPHEREx will provide a comprehensive survey of ice content in various stages of star and planet formation. This data is essential for unraveling the complexities of how water and organic molecules are incorporated into planetary systems.
SPHEREx will launch aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket from Vandenberg Air Base on February 27th, entering a Sun-Synchronous orbit at approximately 700 km altitude. Over its 25-month mission, the spacecraft will map the entire sky four times, offering an unprecedented view of the cosmic distribution of water and other vital molecules.
The SPHEREx mission stands to significantly advance our understanding of water’s role in the universe. By providing extensive spectral data and collaborating with other advanced telescopes, SPHEREx will help delineate the processes that lead to the formation of oceans and potentially life-supporting environments on planets. Its comprehensive survey will bridge gaps left by previous missions and open new avenues for exploring the origins of water in our galaxy.
