SPHEREx
Clues about the origin of the universe and of life are scattered across the sky. SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) is a next-generation space observatory designed to measure the infrared spectrum of 450 million galaxies and millions of stars in the Milky Way. With these spectra, SPHEREx will answer pressing questions about the history and origin of the universe, and reveal the abundance of water and other molecules associated with life in the Milky Way in unprecedented detail. Researchers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian are involved in the design of the program to look for the interstellar molecules necessary for life as we know it. SPHEREx is targeted to launch in 2023.
Visit the SPHEREx Website