James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope:

     The James Webb Space Telescope which was alternatively called JWST or Webb will be a large infrared telescope with 6.5 meter primary mirror. The telescope will be launched on an Ariane 5 Rocket from French Guiana Space Flight Center in Spring 2019.

Future Wonder of Space:

     James Webb Space Telescope will be the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It will study every phase in the history of our universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our solar system.

Next Generation Space Telescope:

     James Webb Space Telescope was formerly known as the "Next Generation Space Telescope" NGST it was renamed in September 2002 after a former NASA administrator, James Webb.

Joint Collaboration:

     JWST is an international collaboration between National Aeronautics Space Administration, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is managing the development effort. The main industrial partner is Northrop Grumman: the Space Telescope Science Institute will operate JWST after launch.

Webb Telescope Technologies:

     Several Innovative technologies have been developed for James Webb Space Telescope. These include a primary mirror made of 18 separate segments that unfold and adjust to shape after launch. The mirrors are made of ultra-light weight beryllium. JWST's biggest feature is a tennis court sized five layer sunshield that attenuates heat from the Sun more than a million times. The telescope's four Instruments, camera spectrometers have detectors that are able to record extremely faint signals. One instrument NIR Spectrometer has programmable microshutters, which enable observation up to 100 objects simultaneously. JWST also has cryocooler for cooling the mid-infrared detectors of another of another instrument MIRI to a very cold 7 K so they can work.

Credits :  The James Webb Telescope in NASA Webpage

More Information:

• National Aeronautics Space Administration
• European Space Agency
• Canadian Space Agency
• Goddard Space Flight Center
• Space Telescope Institute

Tags : James Webb Space Telescope | Hubble Space Telescope | Space Telescopes