James Webb Space Telescope: Deployment Animation

A video of the James Webb Space Telescope deploying. You can download different versions of this video here: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[jaredwilder88]

will you flip it around and take pics of earth and mars?

[NASAWebbTelescope]

We will image objects in our solar system. Except for those between the spacecraft and the Sun!

[AnyBodyWannaPeanut]

wouldn't it be torn to bits by micrometeors? It looks like it's a high-precision instrument that could easily get damaged by having all it's important bits exposed like that....

[NASAWebbTelescope]

Also, Webb will not be in earth orbit like Hubble - it will be at a Langrange point, called L2, 1.5 million km away from the earth. At L2, there is very little space debris, and few meteorites. With space being as vast as it is, there is very little chance that Webb will get hit by something large enough to damage it.

[coolmaxhot]

Why not deploy and test it at the ISS then send it out to deep space?

[NASAWebbTelescope]

In the very earliest stages of feasibility studies NASA examined the possibility of on-orbit assembly for what was then called the next generation space telescope or NGST. At that time, and still today, the ISS does not have the capability to assemble precision optical structures. Additionally, the environment around the ISS is not suitable for the exposed optics that JWST has and would have had the possibility to damage or contaminate the optics. (1/2)

[NASAWebbTelescope]

The deployment of Webb happens far above Low Earth Orbit and the debris that resides there. Finally, if the ISS were used as a stopping point for the observatory we would have needed a second rocket to launch it to its final destination at L2. The observatory would have to be designed with much more mass to withstand this “second launch” leaving less mass for the mirrors and science instruments. (2/2)

[NASAWebbTelescope]

Don't forget there's no sound in space!

[oopoo64]

Transformers!

More than meets the eye!

[Onihikage]

Yep. Something the highly religious folks fail to realize is that by understanding the universe, we gain a greater understanding of our creator's thoughts and majesty - if one believes in a creator, that is. I do, and I love learning about him. :)

[spencertron88]

How thick are those mirror films?

[Minimeister317]

So excited to see new deep field galaxy photo's taken with this thing. The range it will be happen to look compared to Hubble will be magnificent I hope!

[HuskerSeaofRed]

How many more delays can be expected? I'm completely losing interest and faith in NASA.