NASA to launch new space telescope (Image: GETTY)
The telescope will be launched in 2023 and will hopefully answer two key questions regarding the Earth's galaxy. Named the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) mission, the instrument will try to solve how the universe was created but also how common some of the essential building blocks of life are throughout the galaxy. It will not only map out the key ingredients of the Milky Way Galaxy but also provide crucial answers to some of the biggest scientific mysteries.
Thomas Zurburchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said: “This amazing mission will be a treasure trove of unique data for astronomers.
“It will deliver an unprecedented galactic map containing 'fingerprints' from the first moments in the universe's history.
“And we'll have new clues to one of the greatest mysteries in science: What made the universe expand so quickly less than a nanosecond after the big bang?"
The SPHEREx mission will be able to gather and observe data from more than 100 million stars
