VIAVI Delivers Precision Optics for NASA's Groundbreaking SPHEREx Mission

Core Insights - VIAVI Solutions Inc. announced its contribution to NASA's SPHEREx mission, which launched on March 11, 2025, aimed at conducting the first all-sky spectral survey in the near-infrared range [1][2] Company Contributions - VIAVI's optical components enhance the SPHEREx spectrometer's capability to capture faint infrared signals, crucial for creating a comprehensive spectral map [3] - The technology includes six precision 2k x 2k detectors and Linear Variable Filters that split wavelengths from 0.75 to 5.0µm, along with a dichroic beamsplitter that manages light transmission [3] Industry Impact - SPHEREx will map hundreds of millions of galaxies and over 100 million stars, providing insights into cosmic inflation, galaxy evolution, and the origins of water and organic molecules in planetary systems [2] - The mission's data will allow researchers to explore deeper into cosmic mysteries and the chemical pathways leading to the emergence of life [2] Previous Achievements - VIAVI's contributions to space missions include technologies used in the LEISA instrument on New Horizons, the OVIRS instrument for OSIRIS-REx, and the MISE instrument on Europa Clipper [4]