The James Webb Space Telescope, also known as JWST, is the next generation space observatory that is set to revolutionize astronomy. It is the largest, most powerful, and technologically advanced space telescope that has ever been built. The telescope will be launched in late 2021, and it will be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990.
The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It has been under development since 1996, and its construction was completed in 2016. The telescope is named after James E. Webb, who served as the administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968.
One of the most significant advantages of the James Webb Space Telescope is its unprecedented vision. The telescope will be able to see much deeper into space than any other telescope before it. Its infrared capabilities will enable it to look through dust clouds that have been blocking the view of other telescopes. This will allow astronomers to observe the earliest galaxies, stars, and black holes in the universe, which will provide clues about how they formed and evolved.
The James Webb Space Telescope will also be able to study exoplanets – planets that are outside our solar system. It will be able to see the atmospheres of these planets and determine whether they contain water, oxygen, or other signs of life. This is a crucial step in the search for habitable planets.
The telescope is enormous – it stands at 21.3 feet tall and is 46.5 feet wide. Its primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 meters, which is more than twice the size of the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope. The mirror is made of 18 hexagonal segments that will unfold once the telescope reaches its destination.
The James Webb Space Telescope will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. It will be sent to an orbit around the sun at a distance of about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, which is four times farther than the moon. Once it has reached its destination, it will take about a month for the telescope to deploy its mirror and sunshield.
The James Webb Space Telescope has been a long time in the making, and it represents a significant investment in the future of space exploration. It will provide invaluable information about the universe, and help us better understand our place in it. With its unprecedented vision, JWST is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers.