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Biggest space telescope launch delayed till 2020
What has happened?
NASA has delayed the launch of its much awaited, $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope — set to be the world’s biggest space observatory — until at least May 2020.
NASA says it won’t be ready before May 2020 as the project is undergoing final integration and tests
The telescope is currently undergoing final integration and test phases that will require more time to ensure a successful mission
What is JWST?
- Infrared telescope: The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) will be a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror
- Webb will be the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide
- Will Study every phase in history of Universe: 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 own Solar System.
- Webb was formerly known as the “Next Generation Space Telescope” (NGST); it was renamed in Sept. 2002 after a former NASA administrator, James Webb.
Innovative Technologies used in JWST
Several innovative technologies have been developed for Webb
- Segmented mirrors: These include a primary mirror made of 18 separate segments that unfold and adjust to shape after launch
- Beryllium made mirrors: The mirrors are made of ultra-lightweight beryllium
- Tennis court size sunshield: Webb’s biggest feature is a tennis court sized five-layer sunshield that attenuates heat from the Sun more than a million times
- NIRSpec: The telescope’s four instruments – cameras and spectrometers – have detectors that are able to record extremely faint signals. One instrument (NIRSpec) has programmable microshutters, which enable observation up to 100 objects simultaneously
- Cryocooler: Webb also has a cryocooler for cooling the mid-infrared detectors of another instrument (MIRI) to a very cold 7 K so they can work.
