Engineering SPHEREx: A Mission to Decode the Universe ft. Michael Werner & Richa Sirohi
Schedule
Mon, 09 Mar, 2026 at 07:30 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Chautauqua Community House | Boulder, CO
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Door time: 7:00Show time: 7:30
BAE Systems engineers Richa Sirohi and Michael Werner will present an in-depth look at the SPHEREx mission, a NASA astrophysics observatory developed with key engineering contributions from BAE Systems, designed to map the entire sky in near-infrared light. This talk will explore the intricate engineering challenges behind SPHEREx—from spacecraft architecture and integration to the mission’s execution to enable groundbreaking science.
Attendees will gain insight into how SPHEREx’s innovative design supports its ambitious goal: to collect spectral data from hundreds of millions of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. Werner and Sirohi will walk through the technical decisions that shaped the spacecraft’s capabilities, including its optics, and data handling, and how these elements work in concert to deliver high-fidelity measurements across the sky.
The talk will also highlight the mission’s scientific promise: probing the origins of the universe, investigating the abundance of water and organic molecules in star-forming regions, and surveying the large-scale structure of the cosmos to understand inflation and galaxy evolution.
SPHEREx embodies the challenges and triumphs of lean, cross-organizational engineering, and scientific hope. Whether you’re an engineer, scientist, or space enthusiast, this session offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how cutting-edge spacecraft engineering enables transformative astrophysical discovery.
Richa Sirohi:
Richa Sirohi is a Lead Spacecraft Systems Engineer at BAE Systems. She has previously worked at the RF anti-drone startup, Epirus, as well as NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she played a key role in the development of NASA’s SPHEREx mission. Richa has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University, a Master’s in Systems Engineering from Cornell University, and a Master’s of Engineering Management from Cornell University. Richa specializes in integrating complex subsystems to enable cutting-edge aerospace technology. Her work bridges the gap between mission architecture and scientific discovery, ensuring that spacecraft design meets the rigorous mission demands. Richa is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for collaborative engineering, bringing both technical precision and creative energy to every project she leads.
Michael Werner:
Michael Werner is a systems engineer at BAE Systems. He has worked on the spacecraft bus for NASA’s SPHEREx mission since 2019, and continues to support the mission as the Spacecraft Lead Systems Engineer during science operations. Michael received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and his M.S. degree in Aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He joined BAE Systems in 2018 and has supported spacecraft programs during his time there, focusing on bringing effective collaboration, empathetic leadership, and technical rigor to the programs he supports.
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Where is it happening?
Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Dr, Boulder, CO 80302-7549, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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