Fast Summary
- NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has successfully begun its mission to create a 3D map of the entire sky, capturing data on hundreds of millions of galaxies.
- The spacecraft takes approximately 3,600 photos per day using six detectors tuned for infrared light wavelengths, and requires two years to accomplish its task.
- Positioned about 404 miles above Earth, it orbits the planet 14.5 times daily and utilizes spinning reaction wheels rather than thrusters for position adjustments.
- spherex uses spectroscopy across 102 infrared wavelengths to study cosmic objects’ composition, distances between galaxies, and measure faint glows from ancient galaxies as the Big Bang.
- This approach enables insights into cosmic inflation post-Big Bang while searching for life-essential molecules like water in distant regions of space.
- Project leaders Jamie Bock and Jim Fanson expressed optimism regarding SPHEREx’s performance and potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
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Indian Opinion Analysis
NASA’s SPHEREx mission holds profound importance globally, including implications directly relevant for India. As emerging advances in astrophysics deepen humanity’s understanding of universal origins through tools like SPHEREx mapping early-time cosmic phenomena, countries such as India could leverage these findings to amplify domestic research capacities within its growing space industry. Instruments employing hyperspectral imaging could ideally even bear cross-scaled R&D acceleration trajectory partnerships-better linked both upcoming evolvement Diqueries आधpat duplicate