NASA launches missions to uncover universe's origins

NASA has launched two missions to explore the universe’s origins and the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH satellite constellation will map the cosmos and study solar wind, helping scientists understand cosmic evolution and improve space weather forecasts.

NASA has initiated two groundbreaking missions to investigate the universe’s origins and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the agency announced Tuesday.

Aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the SPHEREx observatory and the PUNCH satellite constellation launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base after multiple delays due to technical reviews and weather conditions.

Over the next two years, SPHEREx will conduct a full-sky survey four times, analyzing the light from hundreds of millions of galaxies to create a 3D map of the cosmos. This data may provide new insights into how the universe evolved after the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago.

NASA scientists believe the mission will help uncover the large-scale distribution of galaxies, shedding light on cosmic inflation—a rapid expansion phase in the early universe. Additionally, SPHEREx will search for water ice and other life-essential molecules within the Milky Way.

“Humanity has long wondered, ‘How did we get here?’ and ‘Are we alone?’” said James Fanson, SPHEREx project manager. “With these tools, we’re closer than ever to finding answers.”

Meanwhile, PUNCH is set to study how the Sun’s corona extends into the solar wind—a continuous stream of charged particles that impacts space weather. By tracking these interactions, researchers aim to enhance forecasts of solar storms that can disrupt satellites and power grids on Earth.

“The space between planets isn’t empty—it’s shaped by turbulent solar wind,” explained Craig DeForest, PUNCH’s principal investigator. “This mission will help us understand how these winds form and influence space weather on Earth.”

Both missions will operate in low Earth orbit, with SPHEREx managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and PUNCH led by the Southwest Research Institute.

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