In a quest that could reshape our understanding of how life emerges in the universe, NASA is preparing to launch a groundbreaking telescope designed to map frozen compounds across the galaxy. The SPHEREx mission, scheduled for launch no earlier than February 27, will conduct the largest-ever survey of cosmic ice, potentially revealing the origins of Earth’s oceans and the building blocks of life itself.
While the vast emptiness of space may appear devoid of water, scientists believe that most of the universe’s water exists in a less obvious form: as ice, clinging to tiny grains of interstellar dust. These frozen reservoirs, hidden within massive clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds, may hold the key to understanding how water makes its way to planets like Earth.
The mission’s timing is particularly relevant as astronomers increasingly focus on the search for potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system. “This puzzled us for a while,” said Gary Melnick, a senior astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and a member of the SPHEREx science team, reflecting on earlier discoveries that found less gaseous water than expected in space. “We eventually realized that SWAS had detected gaseous water in thin layers near the surface of molecular clouds, suggesting that there might be a lot more water inside the clouds, locked up as ice.”
Set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) represents a significant advancement in our ability to study these cosmic ice reservoirs. Unlike previous space telescopes, SPHEREx is specifically designed to conduct a comprehensive survey, creating three-dimensional maps of ice distribution throughout the galaxy.
The telescope will search for more than just water. Its instruments will detect carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other compounds crucial for life, all in their frozen states. These materials, protected from cosmic radiation deep within molecular clouds, could provide insights into how planets form and acquire their chemical compositions.
What makes SPHEREx particularly innovative is its survey approach. Rather than capturing traditional two-dimensional images, the telescope will gather detailed spectroscopic data along more than 9 million lines of sight. This technique allows scientists to measure not just the presence of ices, but how their compositions change throughout different regions of space.
The mission builds on previous discoveries while addressing long-standing questions. In 1998, NASA’s Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) surveyed the galaxy for gaseous water but found surprisingly little. This finding led scientists to theorize that most water must exist in solid form, protected within the depths of molecular clouds. SPHEREx aims to confirm this hypothesis and provide a more complete picture of how water and other compounds are distributed throughout space.
The telescope’s capabilities will complement other space observatories, particularly the James Webb Space Telescope. As Melnick explained, “If SPHEREx discovers a particularly intriguing location, Webb can study that target with higher spectral resolving power and in wavelengths that SPHEREx cannot detect. These two telescopes could form a highly effective partnership.”
Beyond its immediate scientific goals, SPHEREx represents a collaborative effort across multiple institutions. The mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, with BAE Systems providing the telescope and spacecraft. Scientists from ten institutions in the United States, two in South Korea, and one in Taiwan will analyze the data, which will be made publicly available through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive.
As launch day approaches, the mission stands poised to provide unprecedented insights into the cosmic origins of water and the chemical foundations of life. By mapping these frozen compounds across the galaxy, SPHEREx may help answer one of humanity’s most fundamental questions: how common are the ingredients for life in the universe?
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