NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
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Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#2> four suitcase-sized satellites
Americans will use anything else but the metric system :)
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#3[flagged]
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#4[flagged]
Rule #1 of government spending is why build one when you can build two at twice the price
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#5This is so cool, but I did not see a key piece of info in the article: does the ongoing operation of this mission fall under NASA's science budget and therefore at risk of cuts and defunding under Trump [1]?
[1] https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/white-house-may-seek-t...
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#6Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#7"The SPHEREx mission will map the entire sky four times over two years, offering scientists a chance to study how galaxies form and evolve, and providing a window into how the universe came to be."
So each object will be scanned ~6 months from the previous scan. How much evolving within the universe will be noticeable within that 2 year run? My gut response is not much, but that's why we do the science to see the changes.
"designed to map the celestial sky in 102 infrared colors "
So I'm guessing the coolant used to make IR scanning possible will be the limiting factor on operational time span. This article didn't say where this satellite will be parked either, but wikipedia[0] shows it to be a geosync orbit. Would have been interesting to be able to design a replaceable coolant module to extend the observations to really make seeing the evolution possible. Obviously complexity adds to cost and design time, so of course they didn't. Just dreaming
As an example, the study of the stars orbiting around SagA* are very revealing, but have required > 10 years of observations.
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#8> four suitcase-sized satellites Americans will use anything else but the metric system :)
Hey! I know exactly how many Stanley cups fit in four suitcases, you don't have to tell me twice.
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#9> four suitcase-sized satellites Americans will use anything else but the metric system :)
Wait, is this carry on sized or checked size?
Is it delta's size limits, or are we following united or American Airlines? Or heaven forbid, alligent?
Re: NASA to launch space observatory that will map 450M galaxies
#10This is so cool, but I did not see a key piece of info in the article: does the ongoing operation of this mission fall under NASA's science budget and therefore at risk of cuts and defunding under Trump [1]? [1] https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/white-house-may-seek-t...
Yep, it looks like it will be cut and closed, which is truly unfortunate. It’s disappointing to see that science nor innovation are not a priority for this administration. And this doge cutting of funding or even shutting down important projects will have long-term consequences, impacting research, education, and technological advancements that benefit everyone.