-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueLearning to Speak ‘Fab’
Our expert contributors clear up many of the miscommunication problems between PCB designers and their fab and assembly stakeholders. As you will see, a little extra planning early in the design cycle can go a long way toward maintaining open lines of communication with the fab and assembly folks.
Training New Designers
Where will we find the next generation of PCB designers and design engineers? Once we locate them, how will we train and educate them? What will PCB designers of the future need to master to deal with tomorrow’s technology?
The Designer of the Future
Our expert contributors peer into their crystal balls and offer their thoughts on the designers and design engineers of tomorrow, and what their jobs will look like.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
BAE Systems Delivers NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory for Launch
January 21, 2025 | BAE SystemsEstimated reading time: 1 minute

BAE Systems has successfully delivered NASA’s Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) Observatory to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The observatory is scheduled to launch in late February alongside NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The minimum two-year mission will conduct the first all-sky spectral surveys and gather valuable data to help answer fundamental questions about the universe.
SPHEREx will use an advanced imager developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to survey the entire sky in near-infrared light. Over the course of four planned surveys, the observatory will create 3D, colored maps of more than 450 million galaxies and millions of stars in the Milky Way. This data will provide the scientific community with novel insights on the formation of the universe in the moments after the Big Bang, help determine how galaxies evolve over time, and seek out water and other life-sustaining molecules in areas where planets are forming.
“The development of SPHEREx represents a remarkable collaborative effort between BAE Systems, JPL, Caltech, and numerous other institutions that helped to make this groundbreaking mission a reality,” said Brian Pramann, SPHEREx program manager for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “After years of complex design, manufacturing, integration and testing efforts, our team can’t wait to see SPHEREx launch.”
Along with its core science objectives, SPHEREx will also identify targets of interest for follow-up studies by observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.
BAE Systems built both the spacecraft bus and telescope for the observatory, in addition to leading spacecraft integration and environmental testing for the mission. The company will also support launch operations and spacecraft commissioning. Caltech’s Dr. Jamie Bock is the mission’s principal investigator.
BAE Systems is proud to continue its longstanding support of NASA’s astrophysics missions, including work on the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope among others.
Suggested Items
Molex Releases New Report on Strategies for Advancing Rugged, Reliable Connectivity in Modern Aerospace and Defense Applications
04/01/2025 | MolexMolex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, has released a new report from AirBorn, a Molex company, which explores the unrelenting demands for constant, continuous connectivity to support the rigors of modern aerospace, defense and space-industry applications.
Yamaha Reveals Latest Updates Boosting Ease of Use in 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION
04/01/2025 | Yamaha Robotics SMT SectionYamaha Robotics SMT Section has announced automated programming capabilities in YSUP factory software that streamline program generation for all surface-mount processes, including dispensing, printing, placement, and inspection.
Airbus to Design and Build ESA’s ExoMars Rover Lander Platform
03/31/2025 | AirbusAirbus has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space (TAS - a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%)), the ExoMars industrial prime contractor, to build key systems for the ExoMars lander that will safely place the Rosalind Franklin rover on the surface of the Red Planet.
New Cryostatic Systems Elevate Current Research on Qubits
03/31/2025 | Fraunhofer IAFThe Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT) at Fraunhofer IPMS has recently acquired new cryostats for the research on qubits and the qualification of superconducting systems.
The Knowledge Base: At the Forefront of Electronics Manufacturing
03/26/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseThe electronics manufacturing industry is at a transformative crossroads, shaped by emerging technologies, shifting supply chain dynamics, sustainability initiatives, and the relentless push for miniaturization and efficiency. The industry's future will be defined by innovations in semiconductor manufacturing, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainable practices. Here, I will explore the key developments that are propelling the industry forward and their implications for manufacturers, engineers, and stakeholders.