Siem Reap: The SPHEREx, a space telescope jointly developed by the Republic of Korea and the United States, has entered its initial operation stage following a successful launch, Seoul’s aerospace agency announced. The telescope, a collaborative effort between the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), marks a significant milestone in international space exploration.

According to Lao News Agency, the SPHEREx was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday (Korea time) aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) reported that the observatory detached from the rocket approximately three minutes after launch and successfully established communication with the Svalbard Ground Station in Norway, part of NASA’s near space networks, at 1:30 p.m.

The telescope, valued at 300 billion won (US$488 million), is set to survey the entire sky over a two-year mission following a 37-day initial operation. This mission aims to aid scientists in their studies of the universe’s formation and evolution. KASI, a research institute under KASA, played a crucial role in the development of SPHEREx, highlighting the collaborative efforts between South Korea and the U.S. in advancing space science.