A simulated view of the cosmic web: glowing orange and purple filaments of gas connecting galaxies against a dark background.
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Stratospheric Cosmic Web Imager

MaturingDeep spaceAstrophysics

Observing the faint gas that surrounds and connects galaxies.

SCWI is a high-altitude balloon observatory designed to observe faint ultraviolet emission from gas surrounding and connecting galaxies. Flying above most of Earth’s atmosphere, SCWI will access ultraviolet wavelengths that cannot be studied from the ground, revealing material that has remained largely hidden from view.

Where we’re going

  • Flight Site: Fort Sumner, New Mexico
  • Flight: 2028
  • SCWI will fly aboard a zero-pressure balloon to approximately 33 kilometers above Earth for a single night of scientific observations.

Why we’re going

Galaxies are surrounded by vast halos of diffuse gas connected by filaments that form the cosmic web. This material fuels galaxy growth, yet it is so faint that it has only been detected in the distant, early universe. Its structure in the universe we see today remains one of the great unknowns in modern astronomy.

By directly observing this faint emission, SCWI will reveal how matter moves through the universe and how galaxies grow and interact with their environments over cosmic time.

How we’ll do it

Diagram of the SCWI observatory: a telescope, ultraviolet spectrograph, and detector housed in a gondola suspended beneath the balloon.

SCWI combines a telescope, ultraviolet spectrograph, and sensitive detector to measure both the distribution and motion of diffuse gas surrounding and connecting galaxies.

  • Team members gather around STABLE as they prepare the observatory for transfer through a large doorway.
  • STABLE hangs from an overhead crane as team members guide it into the High Bay.
  • Several team members surround and guide STABLE as it is suspended from an overhead crane.
  • STABLE hangs from lifting equipment above an opening as team members prepare for crane operations below.
  • Two team members inspect STABLE’s circular support structure and internal components before load-in.

The Team

Co-Leads:

  • Laura Jones-Wilson[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]
  • Professor Chris Martin[Caltech]

Team:

  • Nathan Bush [JPL]
  • Paul Eryan [JPL]
  • Ephraim Gau [Caltech]
  • Adam Johnson [JPL]
  • Gillian Kyne [JPL]
  • Ian McKinley [JPL]
  • Drew Miles [Caltech]
  • Shouleh Nikzad [JPL]
  • Monica Nolasco [Caltech]
  • Joe Perez [JPL]
  • Vincent Picout [Caltech]
  • Jorge Pineda [JPL]
  • Nik Prusinski [Caltech]
  • Tryston Raecke [Caltech]
  • Arnauld Saillard [JPL]
  • José Siles [JPL]
  • Mateusz Matuszewski [Caltech]
  • Cameron Wheeler [JPL]
  • Jason Willis [JPL]
  • Andy Klesh [JPL]
  • Mark Simons [Caltech]
  • Rachel Etheredge [Caltech]
  • Kat Park [Caltech]