The launch date for the next-generation space telescope ‘SPHEREx,’ which had been repeatedly delayed, has finally arrived, and the telescope has been launched into space.
The SPHEREx space telescope, developed by a joint team from Korea and the United States, was launched into space at 12:10 PM today (12th) Korean time, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.
Originally scheduled for launch on the 28th of last month, SPHEREx had its launch date postponed eight times, and yesterday (11th), the launch was canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions just 40 minutes before takeoff.
Successfully launched, SPHEREx will operate in a near-Earth orbit about 700 km above the ground. After approximately 40 days of trial operations, it is set to commence full-scale observations.
SPHEREx is a space telescope collaboratively developed by NASA, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, and ten other institutions. It can observe the entire sky in 102 infrared colors, enabling the creation of the world’s first 3D infrared space map, and it will also help identify environments where extraterrestrial life may exist.
※ ‘Your tip becomes the news’
[On KakaoTalk] Search YTN and add the channel
[Phone] 02-398-8585
[Email] [email protected]