A few days ago, it was announced that NASA had officially completed work on the famous James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. Now we learn that the agency plans to send the telescope into space on December 18, 2021. The James Webb will reach orbit aboard an Ariane 5 provided by ESA and launched from French Guiana. NASA must send the telescope to the launchpad.
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The James Webb Space Telescope was considered complete in 2016 and was expected to launch in 2018. However, it was ultimately delayed due to its complex construction. It wasn't assembled until 2019, and later other obstacles, such as COVID-19 , caused even more delays. NASA had been working on the James Webb telescope since the late 1990s, but the team paused much of its work and redesigned the equipment in 2005.
As mentioned above, it is considered the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. However, it is more advanced, with features that will allow it to see more distant and less luminous objects than Hubble. Researchers believe that the James Webb Space Telescope will be able to detect early galaxies that even Hubble can't find. However, there are some technical challenges. The JWST's instruments will have to stay extremely cold (-370F) and will need a large sunshield, while the telescope will also have to be transported to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point, also known as L2.
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The mission will be relatively short. NASA estimates it will last about five years, although it hopes for 10 years.
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Researchers believe this long-term development effort will bear fruit. The James Webb Space Telescope will help NASA astronomers and astrophysicists fill in gaps in studies where Hubble didn't quite help. JWST could help solve a number of cosmic mysteries during its short lifespan.
Source: Engadget
