The SPHEREx Satellite Mission

Year: 2026 DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae2be2
Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx), a NASA Explorer satellite launched on 2025 March 11, is carrying out the first all-sky near-infrared spectral survey. The satellite observes in 102 spectral bands from 0.75 to 5.0 μm with a resolving power ranging from λ/Δλ = 35–130 in 6."2 pixels. The observatory obtains a 5σ depth of 19.5–19.9 AB mag for 0.75 < λ < 3.8 μm with λ/Δλ ∼ 40 and 17.8–18.8 AB mag for 3.8 < λ < 5.0 μm with λ/Δλ ∼ 120 after mapping the full sky four times over two years. Scientifically, SPHEREx will produce a large galaxy redshift survey over the full sky to constrain the amplitude of inflationary non-Gaussianity. The observations will produce two deep spectral maps near the ecliptic poles that use intensity mapping to probe the evolution of galaxies over cosmic history. By mapping the depth of infrared absorption features over the Galactic plane, SPHEREx will comprehensively survey the abundance and composition of water and other biogenic ice species in the interstellar medium. The project will release initial data rapidly in the form of spectral images, and specialized data products over the life of the mission as the surveys proceed. The science team will also produce spectral catalogs of planet-bearing and low-mass stars, solar system objects, and galaxy clusters three years after launch. We describe the design of the instrument and spacecraft, which flow from the core science requirements. Finally, we present an initial evaluation of the satellite’s in-flight performance and key characteristics.