For the longest time, it was the Hubble Telescope that astronomers relied on for information that the outer space can provide. It has played an important role in uncovering mysteries and other anomalies happening in our solar system and beyond. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope will do that and more. It is the largest and most powerful space telescope to date and finally ready to be used.
According to Astronomy, after two decades, work on James Webb Space Telescope is finally completed and is currently stored at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The James Webb Space Telescope will undergo testing to ensure that it can handle various conditions in space.
Some of the tests that the James Webb Space Telescope will be subjected to are vibration, cryogenic and noise tests. There will also be simulation tests.
After the said testing, the James Webb Space Telescope will be attached to the sunshield and spacecraft bus for its scheduled launch in 2018. The James Webb Space Telescope is built using a new material made of 18 gold-plated beryllium segments.
The beryllium segments will ensure that the James Webb Space Telescope will retain its shape. It also a good material for the space telescope to handle harsh environments that it may encounter upon deployment.
Scientists will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the universe. The space telescope will be using both red and infrared light. The first assignment of it is to study the Alpha Centauri.
Why the new James Webb telescope folds like origami https://t.co/hLTSHnfEeL #JWST
— Alberto Conti (@albertoconti) November 29, 2016
James Webb Space Telescope will be launched in Oct. 2018. It will take roughly six months before the space telescope can send back any photos captured in outer space.
As added by Huffington Post, the James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror is made up of 18 hexagonal mirrors that look like gigantic pieces of a puzzle. The mirrors will unfold and take its permanent shape after the launch and assume its orbit.
James Webb Space Telescope was made possible because of the collaboration of NASA, European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency. The images expected to be sent back by the space telescope is nothing compared to anything humans have ever seen, which is much better and more precise as the one previously sent by Hubble Space Telescope.
