JWST and Exoplanets - Mark Clampin (SETI Talks)

[UfoYes]

Great vid. Thank you.

[sbergman27]

I'd prefer to see JWST on a Delta II, but it's too heavy. It needs a Delta IV or Ariane 5, and is getting the Ariane. The Ariane 5 has launched 55 times with 2 failures and 2 partial failures. The good news is that 1 failure and 1 partial failure were its first 2 test flights in the late 90s. Teething problems. Launch 10 was a failure. Launch 14 was a partial failure. But the last 41 launches, over an 8 yr period have been perfect. It seems like a solid launch system. Likely even better by 2015.

[sbergman27]

JWST is extremely exciting for two of my interests: Cosmology, and studying the atmospheres of exoplanets. In particular, superearths around M-dwarf stars. I'm just a spectator, but I might need a valium on launch day! I was excited about OCO, as well, and it's now at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, near Antarctica, with fish living in it. I looked at the track record of the Ariane 5 and will include the summary in a separate post.

[frag971]

He is using a microphone why isnt that recorded? Alot of these talks are hard to listen because of unproper audio record. Could you guys adress that?

[setiinstitute]

@frag971 Thanks for the feedback - this is the final video that we have the audio issues for. Our next video has greatly improved audio.

[frag971]

@setiinstitute Thanks alot! This would improve the viewership experience :)