Learn About NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope!

Interesting Facts About The James Webb Space Telescope!

• The spacecraft is named after James E. Webb, a former Director of NASA between 1961 – 68, who strongly believed in NASA’s role leading exploration and science missions.
• The primary objectives of the JWST mission which are only possible in the infrared wavelength from space-based telescopes are;
  • To observe the most distant events and objects in the universe, such as the formation of the first galaxies 13.5 billion years ago.
  • It will also peer inside dust clouds where stars and planetary systems are forming today.
  • Analyse the atmospheres of exoplanets.
• The JWST will be the biggest space telescope sent into space. Once deployed it will be 21.2 m (69.5 ft) by 14.2 m (46.5 ft) – that’s as large as a tennis court – and weigh 6,200 kilograms (13,670 lbs) at launch!
• The JWST is comprised of three elements, the instruments, the mirrors and the frame/sun shield.
• The large sun shield serves to separate and protect, the sensitive mirrors and instruments from heat from the Sun, Earth/Moon system and also the spacecraft bus.
• The sun shield is so effective that the telescope will operate at -225°C (-370 °F) while on the Sun side it will be 85°C (185 °F) – that’s like wearing sunscreen of SPF 1 million!
• Another element of the telescope is the JWST 6.5 m diameter primary mirror which is significantly larger than Hubble’s. This gives JWST around 6 ¼ times more collecting area and makes it 100 times more powerful!
• The mirror is built in segments, allowing it to fold up so it can fit into the shroud on top of the rocket.
• Once the mirrors were completed, a thin coating of gold is applied as this improves the mirror's reflection of infrared light!
• The JWST has to keep its four instruments super cold, so uses liquid Helium to chill them to enable the detection of the faint infrared light.
• Solar panels will supply 2000 watts power to the spacecraft's instruments.
• The JWST will be launched aboard a European Ariane 5 rocket in early-2021.
• Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope will operate from a Halo orbit taking 180 days to orbit the Sun – Earth L₂ Lagrangian point (which is 4 times the distance to the Moon!).
• From the L₂ point the entire celestial sphere can be observed and mapped over a year, but to stay in the unstable orbit JWST must perform small manoeuvres each month.
• The cost of the development and launch of the JWST was $9.7 billion! This is way over budget!