NASA engineer Ernie Wright looks at James Webb’s first six aircraft ready Space Telescope … [+]
NASA
The “next Hubble” is almost “gone.”
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or “Webb”), originally built 30 years ago and frequently delayed, is now on the launch date of Sunday, October 31, 2021 – and NASA expect to continue.
It was originally scheduled to launch on March 31, 2021 until that date was scrapped due to the pandemic affecting the preparation, the $ 8.8 billion space telescope – which will like a giant sunflower once not released into space – this week completed final action tests at Northrop Grumman Beach in Redondo, California.
Is Webb now ready for launch? Yes, almost – it ‘s now proven that the world’ s best space science telescope is fit to withstand the upcoming release at the top of the Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from ELA – 3 launch center at European Spaceport in French Guiana.
The next series of technical milestones will include the final folding of Webb’s solar view and the use of the 21 ft./6.5 meter diameter mirror (the Hubble Space Telescope is 7 ft. 10 in./2.4 meters, a is made up of 18 hexagonal sections.of gold-plated beryllium.
That mirror will be inside an origami-like structure that folds out once in space after hundreds of small automatic movements.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or Webb) looks a bit like a giant sunflower on a surfboard.
Getty
Webb flies a million miles out into space at the L2 or the second Lagrange Point – where he will remain in a fixed position relative to Earth and the Sun.
It is a complex and expensive project that no one can go wrong.
Designed and funded by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Webb is about the size of a tennis court and positioned as the largest, most powerful and most space science telescope. complex ever built.
However, Webb ‘s ability to detect infrared light will be Hubble’ s biggest advantage.
Seeing in the infrared will allow it to look much faster back in time. It is hoped that Webb will help unravel mysteries in our Solar System, closely study exoplanets and study Earth structures and origins.
It is named after James E. Webb, NASA’s administrator during some Apollo era, although some claim that it was not.
James Webb space telescope
NASA
Recent tests have shown that electronics inside Webb are all working properly and that all four of its scientific instruments can send and receive data through the same network they use in space.
The latest tests – carried out with mask wear and social speed – took a total of 17 days, during which technicians powered all of Webb’s electrical parts and cycled through the operations. in their plans to make sure everyone was working and communicating with each other.
“It has been amazing to see the level of experience, commitment and collaboration across the team in this important milestone,” said Jennifer Love-Pruitt, Northrop Grumman’s director of electric vehicle engineering at Webb Observatory. . “This is certainly something to be proud of because we showed how willing Webb was. Successful completion of this test also means we are ready to move forward towards launch and on-orbit work. ”
In their last full systems test, all James Teb space telescopes were powered by technologists … [+]
NASA / Chris Gunn
Webb also underwent a “ground test,” when technologists discovered that the space telescope was already in deep space. They thought about the whole process of collecting and manipulating data, from designing ideas to posting the scientific data to the community archive.
During the tests Webb was even connected to NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), which is how engineers communicate with, and receive data from, its 30+ robotic probes in the Solar System and beyond. . The DSN uses three radio antennas, each placed 120º apart at Goldstone in California, Madrid in Spain and Canberra in Australia. Whichever line of sight is clearer for the probe or satellite that receives the data.
Once completed a final round of tests Webb will be on its way to South America ready for October’s release. And then it’s really time to “hold your breath” as nearly 500 metric tons of incinerator is lit under a $ 8.8 billion dream.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.