James Webb and SPHEREx: Pioneering Space Exploration

SPHEREx is the latest mission set to launch in NASA’s exploration of space. Scheduled to launch on February 28th, SPHEREx’s mission is to explore the universe's origins and evolution by mapping the sky, collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies. Much like the James Webb Telescope, SPHEREx aims to help identify targets for subsequent telescopes and missions.

Both are innovative pieces of space technology that are designed to teach us and provide researchers with valuable data. Why are both needed and what is the difference between them? These are great questions to those who have not been heavily invested in these projects. Each has its intended purpose that we’ll explain in this article. At the end of the day, both telescopes aim to unravel the universe's mysteries, but they will do so in uniquely complementary ways.

What is the James Webb Telescope?