From March 8 to 10 at South by Southwest, NASA will exhibit a full scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the space angency’s latest project and successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The gargantuan piece of equipment is a sight to behold standing over four stories tall and weighing a total of 13,640 pounds. It will be the mission of the completed telescope to observe the infrared universe to understand the cosmic evolution resulting in planets, stars, and galaxies.
Acting as a cosmic time machine, the JWST, stationed 1.5 million kilometers away from the Earth in an area called the L2 point, will collect data on the earliest stars and galaxies through infrared imaging. Using infrared will allow scientists access to a wealth of new information about heavenly bodies that have now faded from view and bodies that give off little to no light at all. Additionally, the JWST has been tasked with seeking out living planets by searching for proof of water and byproducts of life like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane.
This telescope is the result of an international joint effort by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Primary construction is currently underway at Goddard Space Flight Center, but pieces are being contributed from all over the world. When the project is complete, it will be transported to Kourou, French Guiana for launch in the Ariane 5 rocket.
The Webb team at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland
The JWST is an engineering marvel, if the sheer size isn’t impressive enough, with several features to aid in its mission. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the telescope is the large segmented mirror on top called the Optical Telescope Element. The large size of the mirror, 6.5 meters across, is necessary to achieve desired image quality. Eighteen hexagonal segments are made of gold coated beryllium to create a balance of light weight and reflectiveness. The telescope also features a five-layer hood that will prevent interference by light and heat from the Earth and sun. Also, the hood provides the mirrored eye with a cold, dark environment in which it can best capture infrared light. Finally, a feature to accommodate the special limitations of its rocket transport is the JWST’s ability to fold up for easy storage during travel. After launch, the JWST will be released from the rocket and slowly unfurl before heading off on its way.
The mission is expected to run anywhere from 5 to 10 years but we Earthlings will have to wait. A launch date for the James Webb Space Telescope is still years away. Testing will run through 2014 according to the published timeline, and the launch itself won’t take place until 2015 at the very earliest.
Additional information on the James Webb Telescope can be also be found here.
Comments are closed.