The standard paradigm of cosmology is built upon on a series of
propositions about how the early, intermediate and late epochs of the
universe behave. In particular, it predicts that the universe is
currently filled with dark energy and dark matter. Understanding the
properties of dark energy is plausibly the biggest challenge in
theoretical physics; while we believe the general features of dark
matter are well known. Indeed, there is a broad assumption in cosmology
that the universe on its earlier stages is fully understood and that
discrepancies between the standard model of cosmology and current data
are suggestive of distinct dark energy properties. Uncertainties on the
validity of this hypothesis are not usually taken into account when
forecasting survey capabilities, even though our investigations might be
obfuscated if the intermediate and early universe did behave abnormally.
In this colloquium, I propose a program to investigate dark energy and
earlier aspects of our universe simultaneously, through space missions
in the 2020s in combination with ground-based observatories. This
program will help guide the strategy for the future WFIRST supernovae
and weak lensing surveys. My investigations on how properties of the
early and intermediate universe affect inferences on dark energy (and
vice-versa) will also support NASA's understanding of how future space
missions can be used to test some of the core hypotheses of the standard
model of cosmology.