The James Webb Space Telescope as it will appear in orbit. (credit: NASA) I met John Grunsfeld outside a coffee shop in Houston, across the street from Johnson Space Center, a little more than five years ago. He had only recently retired from NASA after a long and storied career. Over the course of nearly […]
Enlarge / The multi-layer sun shield is in the process of unfolding this week. Right now the portion extending forward from the telescope body is extended; the sides will come later this week. (credit: NASA ) When fully operational, the James Webb Space Telescope will be enormous, with a sun shield measuring 12 x 22 […]
Enlarge / Away it goes. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD — Today, the James Webb Space Telescope started its journey to a location over a million kilometers from Earth, where it will start its science mission in roughly six months. “This is a day for the ages, ” said Ken Sembach, director of the […]
Enlarge / Artist’s impression of the James Webb Space Telescope in space. (credit: NASA ) Following a scare last week, NASA and European Space Agency officials have said they will continue launch preparations with regard to the James Webb Space Telescope. The $10 billion instrument is slated to launch on a European-built Ariane 5 rocket […]
Enlarge / Technician standing near some of the segments of the James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror. (credit: NASA) A short update on the projected launch date of the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope came out of NASA on Monday, and it wasn’t exactly a heart-warming missive. The large, space-based telescope’s “no earlier than” […]
Enlarge / The mirror of the James Webb, with its individual segments unfolded into place. (credit: NASA) The James Webb Space Telescope won’t launch as scheduled on Halloween this year—which is definitely a trick rather than a treat for the space community. However, the delay may only be a few weeks. Last summer, NASA and the […]