The James Webb Space Telescope, a global partnership between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), launched at 7:20 a.m. EST (13:20 CET) on December 25, 2021, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. Following launch and separation from the rocket, Webb’s mission operations middle in Baltimore, the United States, confirmed the spacecraft deployed its photo voltaic array and is in good situation, marking the launch a hit. In the approaching month, Webb will journey to its vacation spot: the second Lagrange level of the Sun-Earth system (L2).
The James Webb Space Telescope lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on December 25, 2021, on its thrilling mission to unlock the secrets and techniques of the Universe. Image credit score: ESA / CNES / Arianespace.
The James Webb Space Telescope, a serious area observatory typically offered because the successor to the very profitable NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, is designed to reply basic questions in regards to the Universe.
It honors NASA’s second administrator, James E. Webb, who headed the company throughout a part of the Apollo period, from February 1961 to October 1968.
With 100 occasions extra sensitivity than Hubble, the telescope can detect infrared mild generated by galaxies as they fashioned greater than 13.5 billion years in the past, within the aftermath of the Big Bang.
It will see farther into our origins — from the Universe’s first galaxies, to the beginning of stars and exoplanets, to exoplanets with the potential for all times. Closer to dwelling, Webb will even take a look at our personal Solar System.
The telescope is an unbelievable feat of area engineering. In order to watch at infrared wavelengths, it’s saved completely shaded from photo voltaic radiation by a large, five-layered sunshield. At 22 x 12 m (72 x 39 toes), that is in regards to the dimension of a tennis court docket.
The sunshield will preserve the telescope in perpetual shadow for operations at minus 233 levels Celsius (minus 387.4 levels Fahrenheit), to forestall the telescope’s personal infrared emission from overwhelming the alerts from the astronomical targets. Its mid-infrared instrument MIRI can be additional cooled to minus 266 levels Celsius (minus 446.8 levels Fahrenheit).
Webb’s major mirror is made from 18 hexagonal-shaped mirror segments, every 1.32 m (4.3 toes) in diameter and weighing roughly 20 kg.
The whole diameter of Webb’s major mirror spans 6.5 m (21.3 toes), which is so massive that it needs to be rigorously folded into the rocket’s fairing for launch.
Each of the telescope’s mirrors is roofed in a microscopically skinny layer of gold, which optimizes them for reflecting infrared mild.
The telescope additionally hosts a convex secondary mirror that’s 0.74 m (2.4 toes) in diameter. This is the second floor the sunshine from the cosmos hits on its route into the telescope.
An artist’s impression of the James Webb Space Telescope. Image credit score: ESA.
“The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us forward into the future,” mentioned NASA administrator Bill Nelson.
“The promise of Webb is not what we know we will discover; it’s what we don’t yet understand or can’t yet fathom about our Universe. I can’t wait to see what it uncovers!”
“Launching Webb is a huge celebration of the international collaboration that made this next-generation mission possible,” mentioned ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
“I want to thank everyone involved with the design, construction, and launch of this ambitious telescope, for making this day a reality. We are close to receiving Webb’s new view of the Universe and the exciting scientific discoveries that it will make.”
“CSA is proud to have contributed critical instruments to this large‑scale international partnership as part of a global effort to spur the next great scientific leap,” mentioned CSA President Lisa Campbell.
“Canadian astronomers are excited to use Webb’s data and benefit from the tremendous science opportunities offered by this one-of-a-kind observatory.”
“I want to congratulate the team on this incredible achievement — Webb’s launch marks a significant moment not only for NASA, but for thousands of people worldwide who dedicated their time and talent to this mission over the years,” mentioned Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, affiliate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
“Webb’s scientific promise is now closer than it ever has been. We are poised on the edge of a truly exciting time of discovery, of things we’ve never before seen or imagined.”
“I am very happy and proud that the versatility and reliability of Ariane 5 have enabled the launch of such ground-breaking mission,” mentioned Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation.
“This is a tribute to the skill and dedication of all the teams involved.”
In the month after liftoff, the James Webb Space Telescope will unfold like a ‘transformer’ in area. Image credit score: ESA.
Webb needed to be rigorously folded into the specifically tailored Ariane 5 fairing for launch, which jettisoned away about 3 minutes after liftoff.
Ariane 5 then started a particular roll maneuver to guard Webb from the Sun’s radiation. After 27 minutes the telescope was launched and the higher stage boosted away.
Now in area and on its option to L2 (roughly 1.5 million km, or 0.93 million miles, from Earth), Webb will bear a fancy unfolding sequence.
In the months after, the devices can be turned on and their capabilities examined.
After half a 12 months in area, Webb will begin its routine science observations.
“The idea for Webb started with the dream of astronomers to observe the birth of the first galaxies in the early Universe, but the telescope will be able to do so much more than everyone had hoped for,” mentioned Dr. Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science.
“It is down to the excellence of the European industry and scientific community that the development of these complex instruments was made possible.”
“We are now looking forward to the beautiful images and spectra that Webb will obtain,” mentioned ESA Webb undertaking scientist Dr. Antonella Nota.
“The European astronomical community is excited to see the results of the 33% available observing time they competitively won for Webb’s first year.”
“The launch of the Webb Space Telescope is a pivotal moment — this is just the beginning for the Webb mission,” mentioned Dr. Gregory Robinson, Webb’s program director at NASA Headquarters.
“Now we will watch Webb’s highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge.”
“When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space.”
“Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination.”