Now NASA/JPL is elevating their game even further with the development of an upcoming 3D mapping space telescope that will be capable of scanning the entire sky to study the rapid expansion of the universe following the big bang, the makeup of fledgling planetary systems, and the history of a dizzying array of galaxies. Credit: NASA/JPL This advanced orbital observatory named SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) is now inching its way up the design ladder and is another step closer to an official test launch by clearing developmental hurdles and entering into mission Phase C.