NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates

JWST discovers water around mysterious comet

The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted water around a rare comet positioned within the important asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. 

The remark represents one other scientific breakthrough for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), representing the primary time that gas, on this case, water vapor, has been detected around a comet within the important asteroid belt. This is vital because it shows that water within the early solar system might have been preserved as ice within the important asteroid belt.

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope discovers water around a mysterious comet

Key instrument is facing sensor issues

A mode of the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is receiving less sensor “throughput”, meaning it’s receiving lower than the expected amount of sunshine on the longest wavelengths. NASA officials are currently investigating the cause.

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope faces sensor glitch in deep space

James Webb Space Telescope sees same supernova thrice over

A surprising recent image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows a galaxy with a supernova, thrice over. That phenomenon is as a result of light bending from the huge gravitational influence of a foreground galactic cluster, as predicted by Albert Einstein. The lensing object is the galactic cluster RX J2129, positioned around 3.2 billion light-years away within the constellation Aquarius. 

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope ‘sees triple’ with help from Einstein (photos)

Webb’s second instrument glitch

The James Webb Space Telescope has experienced its second instrument glitch. The observatory’s Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instrument experienced a glitch on Jan. 15 and has been unavailable for science operations since, in keeping with a NASA statement. Read more>

In the intervening time, scientists have unveiled a number of latest findings from the observatory, particularly along side this month’s 241st meeting of the American Astronomical Society held in Seattle and online. Here’s an array of highlights from JWST:

Early James Webb Space Telescope findings take center stage at key astronomy conference
James Webb Space Telescope notches 1st rocky planet confirmation
James Webb Space Telescope uncovers starbirth clues at ‘cosmic noon’ for 33,000 young stars
James Webb Space Telescope discovers coldest interstellar ice ever seen
James Webb Space Telescope discovers water ice at ringed asteroid Chariklo ‘by remarkable luck’

Webb studies a planet-forming disk

The James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared camera (NIRCam) probed a planet-forming disk around a red dwarf star generally known as AU Microscopii or AU Mic. The study has implications for studies of future planet-friendly zones, in keeping with astronomers.

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope’s ground-breaking study of a planet-forming disk hints at future exoplanet discoveries

James Webb Space Telescope recovers from glitch

The James Webb Space Telescope missed just a few days’ value of science this month, NASA has announced.

The observatory’s glitch began on Dec. 7 when a software hiccup within the spacecraft’s attitude control system, which keeps the spacecraft properly oriented, sent the complete observatory into secure mode. Between Dec. 7 and Dec. 20, when normal observations resumed, the telescope missed just a few days’ value of science work that will probably be rescheduled, in keeping with the statement.

Read more>

James Webb Space Telescope showcases recent detail in alien planet’s atmosphere

The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb or JWST) has much more detail concerning the exoplanet WASP-39b after finding carbon dioxide in its atmosphere in August. Recent details showcased in studies in November, based on the planet’s atmosphere, are telling astronomers more about its formation history. 

“These early observations are a harbinger of more amazing science to come back with JWST,” Laura Kreidberg, director of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Germany who was involved within the observations, said in a statement. “We put the telescope through its paces to check the performance, and it was nearly flawless — even higher than we hoped.”

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope reveals alien planet’s atmosphere like never before

James Webb Space Telescope provides wealthy view of early galaxies

The James Webb Space Telescope is already providing detailed and unique observations concerning galaxies in its first five months of operations, in keeping with astronomers. “We’re really on target to realizing the dream of understanding galaxies on the earliest times,” Garth Illingworth, an astronomer on the University of California, Santa Cruz, said during a NASA news conference held Thursday (Nov. 17) dedicated to early science results from the brand new observatory. 

Managers have elected to tweak the operations of the telescope to avoid micrometeoroids, as 14 dust-sized specks smacked its 21-foot (6.5-meter) golden mirror in recent months. The view Webb provides continues to be pristine, but personnel will make the changes to avoid “micrometeoroid avoidance zones,” NASA officials said on Monday (Nov. 15).

Webb’s supercold camera back to normal operations

The James Webb Space Telescope is back to plain science operations after losing certainly one of its 17 remark modes in August.

Mission personnel paused use of 1 observing mode on Aug. 24 after the telescope’s supercold Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) began showing signs of friction in a grating wheel that permits astronomers to decide on which wavelength of sunshine to look at.

After two months of investigation, the Webb team designed recent guidelines for using the mechanism that ought to eliminate the friction. Test observations with the brand new approach on Nov. 2 cleared the way in which for the instrument to resume work, in keeping with a statement from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which operates the observatory.

Read more>

An online of Webb observations spin out before Halloween

The James Webb Space Telescope released one more spooky picture of the Pillars of Creation amid a creepy set of fresh imagery. Lurking deep within the mid-infrared, dust clouds loom in blue in front of a reddish background, and the celebs are blotted out. The brand new mid-infrared image got here while scientists are still buzzing from one other Pillars view in numerous wavelengths taken only the week before.

Other creepy tricks within the telescope’s roster this week include catching a galaxy bending light and revealing a mystery, as scientists aren’t sure in the event that they are seeing two galaxies or two star cluster in behind. Hidden star formation also got here forth in a galaxy collision imaged in unprecedented detail.

James Webb Space Telescope still surpassing expectations

The James Webb Space Telescope has been in space for nearly 10 months and, despite a micrometeroid issue and a glitch, the telescope’s performance is surpassing expectations, mission officials said in a brand new update today (Oct. 20).

That is excellent news for astronomers given the impressive observations coming from Webb, including a brand new view released Wednesday (Oct. 19) of the long-lasting Pillars of Creation first made famous by the observatory’s predecessor: the Hubble Space Telescope. 

Bizarre rings spotted by James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope spotted a set of concentric angular rings around a large, distant star in September. A pair of latest studies shows the primary visible evidence of starlight pushing dust around, and exhibits the strange environment of the star WR140, which is the truth is a system of two stars that orbit one another.

Scientists also modeled the molten surfaces of 16 lava world types within the laboratory, as they seek to create a database of rocky exoplanets to assist Webb higher understand and discover alien worlds.

James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble team up for dust examination

In a striking image, Astronomers captured two galaxies (under the common name VV 191) that appear close to one another, combining the infrared measurements taken by the James Webb Space Telescope with the visible and ultraviolet light imaging done by the Hubble Space Telescope.

In one other team-up investigation, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory are demonstrating how its X-ray observations are providing recent perspective for Webb images. The truth is, Webb could also be at its simplest when it really works with other telescopes.

Wait begins for James Webb Space Telescope DART footage

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission slammed into an asteroid moonlet Monday (Sept. 26) to check a planetary defense technique that might redirect a future large asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The James Webb Space Telescope was among the many observatories watching, and pictures will flow back from it in the approaching weeks.

Scientists have also been talking about Webb’s ability to see much further back in time, very near the formation of the universe some 13.7 billion years ago. The telescope’s infrared light is ideal for examining ancient stars and galaxies.

James Webb Space Telescope’s ultracold camera has a glitch

The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument’s (MIRI) grating wheel is experiencing an issue affecting some observations. The wheel, which allows selection between light wavelengths, is utilized in only certainly one of MIRI’s 4 remark modes. You may read more concerning the glitch and NASA’s efforts for a deep-space fix here.

Webb’s past observations have delivered an enormous range of science in recent days. An incredible image of Neptune’s rings and moons has been hailed as the most effective of a generation. Fresh atmospheric images of Mars are delivering recent insights, and scientists are gaining details about exoplanets after Webb’s alien planet investigation.

Astronomers could also be getting Webb Space Telescope exoplanet measurements incorrect

Astronomers could also be misinterpreting James Webb Space Telescope’s measurements of exoplanet atmospheres “by an order of magnitude”, a brand new study suggests. 

The telescope’s ambitious mission in deep space includes taking measurements of the chemical compositions of the intriguing stars, galaxies and nebulas it sees, like these fresh images of baby stars within the Orion Nebula released earlier this week.

To help with exoplanet work, telescope scientists use complex models for interpretation. But a brand new study by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), found that these models lack the accuracy to showcase Webb’s nuances.

Full story: Astronomers could also be getting Webb Space Telescope exoplanet measurements incorrect

Webb finds an exoplanet and observes a nebula

The James Webb Space Telescope’s discoveries proceed to span the universe.

The deep-space observatory observed an exoplanet with evidence of silicate-rich clouds; the brown dwarf is almost 20 times the dimensions of Jupiter. The brown dwarf is named VHS 1256 b and orbits two small red dwarf stars, 72 light-years from Earth.

Webb’s sensitive instruments also revealed unprecedented detail in a gas cloud called Doradus 30, initially nicknamed Tarantula for its spider-like appearance. The Tarantula Nebula is positioned 161,000 light-years away within the Large Magellanic Cloud and is the brightest star-forming region in our neighborhood except for our own Milky Way.

Meanwhile, astronomers are fighting disinformation and pseudoscience suggesting that Webb disproved the Big Bang. Spoiler alert: not correct.

James Webb Space Telescope snags first direct image of planet, mysterious rings

Only weeks into its operational phase, the James Webb Space Telescope continues to make history.

The deep-space telescope caught its first direct image of one other alien world. The planet is roughly 385 light-years from Earth and appears like a splotch beside the shop HIP 65426. Webb saw the exoplanet using its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which each take a look at different wavelengths of infrared light.

Scientists are also attempting to determine strange concentric rings around a faraway star, called WR140. The image was released on Twitter by citizen scientist Judy Schmidt. The ripples across the star should not perfectly circular and are puzzling to scientists.

Recent gems from the James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope data continues to stun. 

In an early science result, astronomers used the observatory to detect carbon dioxide within the atmosphere of an exoplanet. It’s the primary time scientists have confirmed that exact chemical’s presence.

And multimedia whizzes have begun digging into imagery from the observatory. First, a brand new video compares views of the “Phantom Galaxy” from JWST and the Hubble Space Telescope. Then, experts have sonified the long-lasting Carina Nebula photo from the observatory’s first science-quality images, turning it into music.

Jupiter’s auroras and early galaxies glow in Webb imagery

Incredible images of Jupiter and its auroras shine in fresh recent images from the James Webb Space Telescope created by citizen scientist Judy Schmidt, based on Webb data. By the way in which, if you would like to create Webb images of your individual, now we have an up-to-date editing guide with Schmidt that discusses the tools, techniques and how you can make the fitting decisions. You may do all of this totally free using a generic computer.

Meanwhile, scientists released a gobsmacking recent mosaic image from Webb showcasing distant galaxies whose light shifted into infrared (from visible) light. Coming from an era nicknamed Epoch 1, this image comes from the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS) and can likely push forward more study.

Exoplanets will probably be among the many pioneering investigations of the James Webb Space Telescope. Scientists hope that the telescope will make clear hot Jupiter exoplanet atmospheres with molten rain, hurling vaporized rock or crystals from up high.

“On Earth, plenty of these minerals are jewels,” Tiffany Kataria, who’s an exoplanetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. “A geologist would study them as rocks on Earth, but they’ll form clouds on exoplanets. That is pretty wild.”

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope will seek clouds of vaporized gems on exoplanets

James Webb Space Telescope stunning video and engineering solutions

Whip through the universe on a brand new video tour by NASA’s deep-space telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope collaboration released a “Star Wars” video tour zooming in to land upon a spectacular galaxy, called the Cartwheel Galaxy. It’s an intriguing take a look at starbirth, including near a supermassive black hole.

Meanwhile, engineers talked concerning the recent technologies they used to construct Webb to check out things never done in space before. Northrop Grumman (the prime contractor) and others did groundbreaking engineering to get the telescope working in deep space.

James Webb Space Telescope ‘photo’ only a chorizo

A physicist pulled a prank on Twitter last week showcasing a photograph from the James Webb Space Telescope, which ended up being a chorizo.

The scientist Étienne Klein, director of France’s Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, shared the purported James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) photo on July 31. But after Klein’s photo went viral, he clarified the image was not from Webb. As a substitute, it was a slice of the Spanish sausage chorizo.

Read more: Scientist admits ‘space telescope’ photo is definitely chorizo in tasty Twitter prank

James Webb Space Telescope breaking records again

The James Webb Space Telescope has just barely began operations, but is breaking records and performing intriguing observations in its first few weeks.

One week after the James Webb Space Telescope released the primary science images, astronomers detected galaxies at redshift 13, equating to about 300 million years after the Big Bang. Not long after, intriguing recent results suggests astronomers are blasting past that metric with possible detections as much as redshift 20. If confirmed, those galaxies are quite early, as they were in existence just 200 million years after the Big Bang.

Webb then turned its attention to essentially the most distant star, called Earendel, after a personality in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel “The Silmarillion.” The star’s light took about 12.9 billion years to achieve Earth and is now visible in a bit more detail than previous imaging from a Hubble Space Telescope deep field image.

Webb also observed a wheel-shaped galaxy, called the Cartwheel, showing unprecedented detail within the galaxy’s structure. Using infrared light, Webb detected individual stars throughout the galaxy’s star-forming regions, and more young star clusters surrounding the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole. These zones are stuffed with dust and best visible in infrared light, which might peer through that.

The science scramble is in full swing!

Just weeks into its tenure, the James Webb Space Telescope is keeping scientists and space fans busy.

The astronomy community’s preprint server, arXiv.org, has seen a number of latest papers analyzing JWST data. One particularly hot topic is the seek for ever-more-distant galaxies: The observatory is now beating its own records, spotting galaxies that we could also be seeing just 200 to 300 million years after the Big Bang.

Other scientists are waiting for what the observatory will have the opportunity to uncover about supermassive black holes.

Meanwhile, amateur image processors are digging into early observations, turning data into artistic endeavors, like a spiraling galaxy that appears like a wormhole. And for those more inclined to snail mail than high-tech image evaluation, the U.S. Postal Service has a stellar recent stamp on offer.

Breaking records already!

Scientists are already making record-breaking discoveries in data from the James Webb Space Telescope. For instance, astronomers have spotted two galaxies that would be the most distant ever seen. If the evaluation is confirmed, we’re seeing the galaxies as they existed 300 to 400 million years after the Big Bang. Read more>

Micrometeoroid aftermath

A report from the James Webb Space Telescope team published on July 12 includes details concerning the unexpectedly large micrometeoroid impact the observatory experienced in late May. Of particular interest is a picture showing the alignment error remaining after engineering teams adjusted the mirror to compensate. Read more>

Hello, Jupiter!

On Thursday (July 14), NASA released its first images of solar system targets captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The photographs show Jupiter, in addition to a few of its moons and rings.

“I could not imagine that we saw every little thing so clearly, and the way vivid they were,” Stefanie Milam, Webb’s deputy project scientist for planetary science based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in an announcement. “It’s really exciting to think about the aptitude and opportunity that now we have for observing these sorts of objects in our solar system.”

Read more and revel in additional images>

A primary-hand account of Tuesday’s big reveal

While the remaining of us settled for watching from home, a lucky audience crowded into an auditorium in Greenbelt, Maryland, to experience the discharge of the James Webb Space Telescope’s first science-quality images first-hand. Space.com Contributor Rebecca Sohn was certainly one of those attendees, and she or he shared what it was prefer to be at the middle of the universe. Read her account>

What’s next for Webb?

With the primary stunning images unveiled, what comes next for the James Webb Space Telescope? Scientists have promised that more observations will pour out from the mission this week, including the primary images of Jupiter, due on Thursday (July 14).

Meanwhile, the telescope is digging into each its early science suite and its first yr projects. But scientists are already looking ahead the observatory’s second yr, which begins next summer, because the telescope is out-performing the expectations researchers planned this yr’s work around. Read more>

And in case you are catching up, here’s all our coverage to date of yesterday’s image release:

Behold! The James Webb Space Telescope’s stunning 1st science images are here.>
Gallery: James Webb Space Telescope’s 1st photos>
1st James Webb Space Telescope images thrill astronauts, celebs and more>
Science and emotion meet as astronomers reply to 1st images from James Webb Space Telescope>

Webb images on the large screens

Lucky passers-by were treated to quite the spectacle when the primary scientific images of the James Webb Space Telescope shone amid the brilliant lights of Times Square, Recent York, and Piccadilly Circus, London, on Tuesday (July 12).

The stunning images of Stephan’s Quintet, the striking Southern Ring Nebula (seen here), the Cosmic Cliffs within the Carina Nebula and the deep field image that was unveiled on Monday (July 11) by President Joe Biden on the White House adorned the streets, gifting city-dwellers a novel view of the cosmos.

Google marks the occasion

Google gets in on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) motion with an lovable Google Doodle celebrating the space observatory’s first images.

The doodle shows Webb snapping photos of the Stephan’s Quintet, the striking Southern Ring Nebula, the Cosmic Cliffs within the Carina Nebula and the deep field image that was unveiled yesterday by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the White House.

Full coverage of Webb’s first images

We’re having fun with a transient pause in the joy as NASA prepares for a news conference starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT), during which scientists and officials will answer more questions on the newly released images. While we wait, take a look at our full coverage of today’s reveals! Read more>

Last but not least!

Finally, NASA unveiled a brand recent image of the Carina Nebula, a distant, massive cloud of gas and dirt where stars are each forming and dying.

“This stunning vista of the cosmic cliff of the Carina Nebula reveals recent details about this cosmic nursery,” Amber Straughn, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, said. “There’s a lot happening here, it is so beautiful.”

Stephan’s Quintet

Next up from the live reveal: stunning views of what scientists call Stephan’s Quintet, a set of 5 galaxies, as seen in each near- and mid-infrared.

“It’s just the start,” Mark McCraughrean, an astronomer on the European Space Agency, said. “We’re ready now, this telescope is working fantastically well.”

Take a look at the Southern Ring!

“Once we saw the primary color images, we knew that we had a winner,” Karl Gordon, an astronomer at Space Telescope Science Institute, said of the science team’s earliest looks on the James Webb Space Telescope’s data. Here, JWST’s talents are applied to the Southern Ring nebula.

See inside an exoplanet’s atmosphere

Image no 1 of today’s reveals shows the atmosphere of a hot exoplanet called WASP-96 b. Read more here>

Starting soon! Here’s the schedule for the day.

Today’s the day space fans have been waiting for. Here’s what to anticipate as NASA unveils the primary science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope:

9:45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT): Opening remarks from NASA leadership.

10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT): Individual release of every recent image.

12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT): NASA officials and scientists will hold a news conference.

You may watch all of those events here at Space.com, and we’ll be sharing live updates throughout the day.

The large reveal of James Webb Space Telescope images is today!

An avalanche of images from the magnificent James Webb Space Telescope is about to be unleashed onto the world today after a taster glimpse into the deepest universe was unveiled on Monday (July 11) by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Scientists and space enthusiasts alike have been virtually star-struck by Webb’s sharp gaze and the plethora of distant objects the telescope revealed. But the most effective is yet to come back through the official image release that is about to start at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) today (July 12), which you may watch here at Space.com courtesy of NASA.

The space agency has previously hinted which celestial objects space fans can sit up for seeing in these images. On Friday (July 8), the agency announced that the reveal will include views of the Carina and Southern Ring nebulas, in addition to Stephan’s Quintet of closely packed galaxies. Also on the agenda is observations of an exoplanet called WASP-96 b, although JWST won’t offer a picture of the distant world. As a substitute, scientists will share a spectrum of the planet, which splits light by wavelength, offering insight into the chemical composition.

President Biden unveils JWST’s 1st science image

Today (July 11), U.S. President Joe Biden and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed the primary science-quality image taken by the agency’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. The shot, generally known as Webb’s First Deep Field, shows an amazingly sharp ultra-deep view of the universe, capturing a galaxy cluster called SMACS 0723 because it appeared 4.6 billion years ago. Read more here>

That is just the start for the Webb mission, which is now able to begin its highly anticipated science mission. NASA will reveal a raft of other science-quality Webb photos during an event on Tuesday morning (July 12). You may watch it here at Space.com. 

Take a video tour of Webb’s first targets

On Friday, NASA released the list of objects that can star in the primary science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope, that are being released Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Tour them on this video!

President Biden to unveil first Webb image from White House today

President Joe Biden will unveil the primary image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, Monday July 11, directly from the White House, NASA announced.

You may watch the Monday reveal live here on Space.com at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) , courtesy of NASA, or directly on NASA TV. 

The Monday release will probably be the primary time the general public will get a glimpse of a full-color, science-grade image from the James Webb Space Telescope, essentially the most complex and expensive observatory ever built.

Announced on Sunday, July 10, the event comes lower than 24 hours ahead of the important release of the primary science-grade images from the observatory, which is scheduled to start at 9.45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT).

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will provide remarks, and the image will concurrently be released to the general public via NASA’s website, NASA said in a statement.

Previously, the space agency released a series of engineering images that provided an enchanting preview of the potential of the telescope, which images the cosmos in infrared wavelengths and might thus see far more distant objects than the Hubble Space Telescope. 

The engineering images, scientists said, kept exceeding expectation, confirming that after years of delays and cost-overruns, the high-tech observatory is about to live as much as the expectations and revolutionize our understanding of the universe.

Listed here are the themes of Webb’s first science images

NASA has unveiled an inventory of celestial objects that can feature in Tuesday’s release of the primary science-quality images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. From nebulas to an exoplanet and more, see the complete list here>

Surprise! We’ll know more about Webb’s first science photos tomorrow

We’ll know a smidge more concerning the subjects of the James Webb Space Telescope’s first science-quality images a bit sooner than expected. NASA has decided to release on Friday (July 8) an inventory of the targets that will probably be depicted within the observatory’s first data release, scheduled for July 12, in keeping with a statement.

We’ll be back tomorrow to provide you the rundown on that list!

One other stunning preview

It’s one other teaser for just how much now we have to sit up for on Tuesday (July 12) when NASA unveils the primary science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope. (Watch live here.) On Wednesday (July 7), NASA released an engineering image taken by the observatory’s High-quality Guidance Sensor — not a science tool but an engineering instrument that keeps the telescope pointing properly. Still, the brand new image is currently the deepest ever view of the universe and guarantees good things to come back from the observatory. Read more>

“This is actually only the start.”

During a media event held on Wednesday (June 29), scientists hailed the James Webb Space Telescope images that NASA will release on July 12. Agency officials hinted at what a few of those images will probably be, scientists discussed what they hope to learn from the observatory’s early work, and engineers recounted tense moments from the long path to having an operational telescope in space. Read more>

Listen live!

NASA officials will discuss preparations for the primary science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope during a media teleconference today that you would be able to take heed to live starting at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) within the window above, courtesy of NASA.

Webb’s first instrument is prepared for science!

The primary of the James Webb Space Telescope’s 4 instruments has been declared ready for science. The Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph instrument, or NIRISS, is designed to assist scientists study the atmospheres of exoplanets, amongst other science tasks. Read more>

Meanwhile, space fans across the globe are counting right down to July 12, when NASA has said it should unveil the primary science images from the observatory. You may have the opportunity to observe the announcement survive Space.com, in fact, and stay tuned for more coverage.

Webb suffers first micrometeoroid impacts

The James Webb Space Telescope has suffered its first few micrometeoroid impacts, in keeping with a NASA statement. The observatory has experienced 4 small impacts in addition to one larger strike that hit certainly one of the 18 primary mirror segments. Nevertheless, the agency said that it doesn’t expect meaningful changes to the timeline for first science-quality images from the mission or to the observatory’s overall scientific legacy. Read more>

Mark your calendars!

NASA has announced that it should unveil the primary science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope on July 12. We do not yet know what celestial objects those images will show — but they ought to be incredible. “These images will probably be the culmination of a long time of dedication, talent, and dreams — but they may even be just the start,” Eric Smith, Webb program scientist at NASA, said in an announcement. Read more>

Webb tracked an asteroid for the primary time

The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully tracked an asteroid, a crucial testing milestone that proves the observatory can monitor objects inside our solar system that seem like moving quite quickly. Read more>

Webb is within the homestretch of commissioning

NASA offered an update on the commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope on Monday (May 9), which highlighted a test image taken by its Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI. The agency compared the brand new image, showing a part of the neighboring Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, with one taken by NASA’s previous infrared observatory, the retired Spitzer Space Telescope. Read more>

NASA will update on Webb’s final prep stages

The James Webb Space Telescope is entering its final commissioning phase before starting science operations this summer. The last phase will concentrate on testing the instruments aboard the observatory and is anticipated to take about two months.

NASA personnel will update the general public concerning the telescope’s progress to date and what stays to be done during a news conference on Monday (May 9) at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), which you’ll be able to watch here on Space.com courtesy of the agency or directly on the agency’s website.

Read more>

Webb is fully aligned and the views are stunning!

The three-month strategy of aligning the James Webb Space Telescope’s instruments and mirrors is finally complete, in keeping with a NASA statement released today (April 28). The agency shared sample images that, while small, showcase the sharp focus of the instrument and offer a tantalizing take a look at what’s to come back. Read more>

Webb cools down

In a brand new update, NASA revealed that the James Webb Space Telescope is sort of fully-cooled. 

Webb observes in infrared light, which we all know best as heat. To make certain its observations aren’t contaminated by any heat from the scope itself, Webb must be extremely cold. In a brand new blog post, NASA shared that the space telescope may be very near its final temperature. 

Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is now cooled to under 7 kelvins (-447 degrees Fahrenheit (-266 degrees Celsius) and so Webb’s instruments are all at their operating temperatures. Now, the scope’s mirrors just need to achieve their final cooled-down temperatures. 

Webb meets crucial temperature milestone

The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) finally reached the super-cold temperature needed to operate as designed. Since the instrument targets infrared light, which manifests as heat, the instrument must remain under 7 degrees Kelvin, which is comparable to minus 447 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 266 degrees Celsius). And after a sophisticated, careful cooling process, that milestone has been reached, in keeping with NASA. Read more>

James Webb Space Telescope most heat-sensitive instrument cooling to absolute zero

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to chill right down to its operating temperature of minus 369.4 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 223 degrees Celsius) because it prepares to take its first scientific images of the distant universe this summer. One in every of the telescope’s 4 instruments, the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), needs some extra help from a dedicated cryocooler because it must get to a fair colder temperature of  minus 447 degrees F ( minus 266 degrees C), only 12 degrees F (7 degrees C) above absolute zero, the temperature where the motion of atoms stops.

Only one alignment left

The James Webb Space Telescope has only one step of its seven-phase alignment process left to finish, NASA announced on April 1. The remaining step requires that the observatory’s most heat-sensitive instrument, the mid-infrared instrument or MIRI cool even farther. That ought to occur in the subsequent few weeks, NASA said, at which point mission personnel can begin calibrating the observatory’s instruments. Read more>

Europe’s Gaia observatory spies James Webb Space Telescope (photo)

Europe’s star-mapping Gaia space observatory managed to snap a picture of NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope on Feb. 18, when the duo were about 620,000 miles (1 million kilometers) apart, we learned today (March 16).

You may’t see much of Webb — it appears as a faint speck against a field of stars — but spotting the scope in any respect is an actual achievement. Read our full story here.

James Webb Space Telescope notches “nice phasing” alignment milestone

The James Webb Space Telescope keeps checking off boxes on the way in which toward the beginning of science operations this summer.

The Webb team has aligned the $10 billion scope’s 18 primary mirror segments and focused them on a single star, NASA officials announced today (March 16). More fine-tuning work stays, however it’s an enormous milestone for the mission and for NASA.

“Greater than 20 years ago, the Webb team got down to construct essentially the most powerful telescope that anyone has ever put in space and got here up with an audacious optical design to fulfill demanding science goals,” Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said in an announcement today. “Today we will say that design goes to deliver.”

Read the ful story here.

NASA guarantees Wednesday Webb update and recent image

NASA will update the general public on Wednesday about progress aligning the James Webb Space Telescope’s primary mirror. The golden mirror is made up of 18 hexagonal segments that have to be in perfect alignment for the observatory to capture sharp images.

And it appears like that process goes well: NASA has promised a brand new image as well. “Participants will share progress made in aligning Webb’s mirrors, leading to a totally focused image of a single star,” NASA officials wrote in a statement.

The NASA briefing will begin on Wednesday (March 16) at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) and you may watch live here at Space.com or directly via the agency’s YouTube. Speakers will include:

• Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington
• Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
• Marshall Perrin, Webb deputy telescope scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore
• Jane Rigby, Webb operations project scientist, Goddard
• Erin Wolf, Webb program manager, Ball Aerospace in Broomfield, Colorado

Webb telescope to check quasars, Kuiper Belt

Because the James Webb Space Telescope continues its checkout tests in deep-space, scientists proceed to eagerly await the flood of science discoveries they hope to make with the $10 billion space observatory. 

Our latest updates on the Webb space telescope’s mission must do with the Kuiper Belt and quasars, targets each near (in astronomical scales) and much that Webb will observe to higher understand the universe. 

First, the Kuiper Belt, which is home to icy objects leftover from the formation of the solar system. As contributing author Elizabeth Howell writes today, a few of Webb’s earliest tasks will probably be to look at sensible quasars at the center of distant galaxies to check how these distant objects (powered by black holes billions of times the mass of our sun) shaped the early universe. You may read the complete story here.

More closer to house is the Kuiper Belt, the stomping grounds for Pluto and its biggest moon Charon, which will probably be a goal for Webb. As contributing author Stefanie Waldek reports, one other certainly one of Webb’s early science goals will probably be to look at Pluto and another objects within the Kuiper Belt at the perimeter of the solar system to trace them over time and find out about their surface chemistry and why there’s such a various range of objects there. 

“Using Webb, we are going to have the opportunity to get details about surface chemistry that may have the opportunity to provide us some clues into why there are these different populations within the Kuiper Belt,” Heidi Hammel, a Webb interdisciplinary scientist for solar system observations, said in an announcement. 

Read the complete story here.

Webb instrument work continues

NASA engineers are working on the fourth stage of the long process to align the mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope, in keeping with a brand new statement from the agency.

The observatory’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument has finished initial check-out and its three key mechanisms have successfully been characterised, the statement noted. The instrument will allow Webb to check the “fingerprint” of sunshine of as much as 100 galaxies at a time, giving scientists crucial details about mass, temperature and chemical composition.

We’re also highlighting more of the research that Webb will execute once science observations begin, including studying strange “sub-Neptunes” and evaluating how the activity of stars might affect nearby planets.

Read more

Nearly halfway through mirror alignment

The James Webb Space Telescope team just accomplished the third of seven planned steps to align the 18 segments of Webb’s big mirror. 

In the course of the second stage, called “segment alignment,” the team corrected the positions of Webb’s primary mirror segments and updated the alignment of the secondary mirror to bring the 18 individual images into focus. They then stacked the 18 images to supply one unified image. “After future alignment steps, the image will probably be even sharper,” NASA officials said in an announcement Friday (Feb. 25).

Read the complete story

Webb instrument work continues easily

Because the James Webb Space Telescope continues the slow commissioning phase, work goes easily, in keeping with a NASA statement published Thursday (Feb. 24). That update notes details about progress in several instruments, including filter wheel calibration for the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) and wheel tuning for the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam). Engineers are also working to exactly align the 18 hexagonal segments that make up the observatory’s massive golden mirror.

Science observations should not expected to start until this summer, but there’s loads of science to get enthusiastic about through the wait. That science includes plans to contribute to the Event Horizon Telescope’s observations of the black hole at the middle of the Milky Way and a program to look at star formation currently hidden by layers of dust.

Sharpening sight

The primary image NASA shared from the brand recent James Webb Space Telescope showed a star warped over 18 different images as a result of inconsistencies within the mirror’s alignment. Just per week later, a brand new image still shows one star 18 times, but now the glint forms a form of cosmic snowflake because the observatory’s image has sharpened. Read more>

Science sneak peek: interstellar asteroids

While James Webb Space Telescope engineers proceed aligning the observatory’s segmented golden mirror, scientists are waiting for the research the telescope will begin conducting this summer. Overall, the observations will range from our own solar system to the very earliest days of the universe.

One example of what astronomers hope to do with Webb? Study any interstellar objects that come rushing through our solar system. To this point, scientists have spotted two: ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet Borisov in 2018. However the James Webb Space Telescope is more powerful than anything within the sky during those two visits, plus it has the capability to look at in infrared, a key skill. Read more>

It is a lock!

The James Webb Space Telescope’s High-quality Guidance Sensor has successfully locked onto a star for the primary time, in keeping with a NASA statement. The instrument plays a vital role facilitating observations, because it keeps the telescope pointing toward the correct goal. Read more>

Before science observations can begin, nevertheless, the observatory still needs to complete aligning the 18 hexagonal segments of its golden primary mirror, a process that the High-quality Guidance Sensor also supports. Although Webb has begun gathering observations and shared its first images last week, those will show the identical star multiple times until the mirror segments are properly aligned.

Webb mission team ecstatic over first images

Today (Feb. 11), NASA revealed that the James Webb Space Telescope has captured its first images of starlight.

And, while the mission team continues to be cautiously looking ahead as there’s much work to be done before the scope is fully operational and able to begin science observations, they’re ecstatic. 

“In spite of everything these years, to really see data once we’re in zero gravity in space, it’s emotional,” Lee Feinberg, the Webb optical telescope element manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, told Space.com today during a news conference

Nevertheless, “We still are being just a little cautious, because we still have things that now we have to get through … but I will certainly say after I went home Saturday night, two days later [after the image was taken], I do know my wife said to me it was the primary time she’d seen me smile since December,” he added.

Read more concerning the team’s excited response and Webb’s thrilling milestone here.

See Webb’s first view of space!

NASA has unveiled Webb’s first image. The photo, as seen above, shows a star called HD 84406 as seen through each of the observatory’s 18 golden mirror segments as scientists proceed to work to align the mirror to supply a single, ultra-crisp image of the universe.

The agency also posted a video sharing the story behind the image:

But that is not all the joy for today! NASA has also released an annotated version of the identical image, plus a “selfie” taken by the observatory of its own golden mirror. See those images and browse more here>

And do not forget to take heed to NASA scientists talk concerning the recent images live at once (11 a.m. EST/1600 GMT)! You may listen here at Space.com.

First Webb images available tomorrow, NASA says

NASA will release among the first images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope on Friday (Feb. 11) at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT), in keeping with an agency update. While these images are a crucial milestone within the observatory’s commissioning, do not get your hopes up for the subsequent great view of the universe: These are images taken through the mirror alignment process and are strictly utilitarian.

As well as, NASA will offer an update on its progress aligning the 18 mirror segments of Webb’s massive primary reflector. The teleconference will begin at 11 a.m. EST (1400 GMT) and will probably be available to take heed to on NASA TV or here at Space.com.

Speakers will include:

• Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
• Marshall Perrin, Webb deputy telescope scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore
• Marcia Rieke, principal investigator for the NIRCam instrument and regents professor of astronomy, University of Arizona in Tucson

Webb is painted black – but why?

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is finally at its home in space where it’s preparing to look at the cosmos. But to do that, it has to remain ultra-cold. (Webb’s “cool side” is minus 388 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 233 degrees Celsius).)

Webb observes infrared light, aka heat, which suggests that to make sure that observations aren’t affected by any additional warmth the scope has to remain super cold. To maintain Webb cold enough, the mission team painted its radiator (which helps to radiate heat away from the telescope) and components an ultra-black color. 

Read more about Webb’s paint job and why it has to remain so cold here.

“Dawn” images coming soon

NASA could possibly be releasing the primary images from the James Webb Space Telescope in the subsequent few days, NASA’s Webb program director Greg Robinson said in an agency town hall meeting today (Feb. 8). But don’t expect these first images to be pretty.

“So the gorgeous, very clear images that we expect to see, you will see those in the summertime sometime roughly six months after launch,” Robinson said. “Sometime next few days, you will note among the first images that should not so clear … the aim of those is to align the mirrors and make certain your complete system is working,” he added. “We’re in that process at once. We only recently began it. So stay tuned over the subsequent few days on those.”

Telescope alignment begins

The James Webb Space Telescope mission team has begun the three-month strategy of aligning the telescope, NASA officials announced today (Feb. 3). 

“This milestone marks the primary of many steps to capture images which are at first unfocused and use them to slowly fine-tune the telescope,” NASA officials wrote in an update today. “That is the very starting of the method, but to date the initial results match expectations and simulations.”

Read the complete story: Alignment of James Webb Space Telescope begins

James Webb Space Telescope’s exoplanet plan, instruments on

NASA flight controllers are have switched on the 4 important instruments aboard the James Webb Space Telescope as they prepare to snap the primary images of a goal star that will probably be used to align the observatory’s 18-segment important mirror. 

The instrument activation began last week. Here’s our full report from senior author Tereza Pultarova. 

Meanwhile, with Webb’s commissioning underway, scientists at the moment are eyeing a future of wonderful astronomy with the large space observatory. One scientist, the Ph.D. candidate Louis-Philippe Coulombe of the University of Montreal, wrote in an op-ed that he’s desperate to see how Webb will help map the atmosphere of exoplanets,  something the observatory should have the opportunity to do higher than any space telescope to this point.

James Webb Space Telescope waking up

The James Webb Space Telescope is starting to get up. 

In a town hall press conference on Friday (Jan. 28), scientists with NASA’s Webb Space Telescope mission outlined the work to date to commission the observatory at its recent home on the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2. During that virtual briefing, Webb scientists outlined the activation sequence for Webb’s important instruments, in addition to the months-long mirror alignment and focusing work that’s underway now. 

Read our full story from Elizabeth Howell on Webb’s commissioning work from the briefing.  

Meet Webb’s 1st goal star: HD 84406

Scientists with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have picked the primary star they may aim at with the brand new observatory and it’s in a really familiar place. 

The star, called HD 84406, is positioned within the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear, which is home to a star pattern it’s possible you’ll know higher because the Big Dipper. 

Webb scientists will use the star to focus each of the 18 mirror segments of Webb’s primary mirror. HD 84406 is a sun-light star about 260 light-years from Earth, and might have binoculars to see clearly. 

Here’s our full story on HD 84406, the primary goal of the James Webb Space Telecope.

Also this week, Bill Ochs, NASA’s Webb telescope project manager, thanked the mission team for its amazing work and dedication to get the observatory to its L2 observing spot. Ochs quoted Jimmy Buffett as he hailed the team, changing some key lyrics. 

Test it out! 

Hello, instruments!

In line with an emailed statement from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Webb will begin turning on its science instruments today (Jan. 28). That may include the High-quality Guidance Sensor, which can guide the observatory’s mirrors through the fragile alignment process to show 18 small individual views into one massive view of the universe.

Within the meantime, consider reading this op-ed from Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science, celebrating the vast team behind the James Webb Space Telescope.

“We did it. We did it, and you may see that speck of sunshine within the sky due to an incredible team with extraordinary tenacity,” Zurbuchen wrote. Read more>

Scientists relieved (and thrilled) after Webb’s trek

With the James Webb Space Telescope now at its final destination, scientists can set free a deep sigh of relief. After just over a month in space (and a long time in development), Webb is now at its observing site. 

“We’re a month in, and the infant hasn’t even opened its eyes yet. But that is the science that we’re looking forward to,” Jane Rigby, Webb operations project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said during a media teleconference on Monday.

You may read Rigby’s response and people of her Webb telescope colleagues on this update from today’s teleconference by contributing author Elizabeth Howell. 

Space.com Senior Author Chelsea Gohd has this account of Webb’s arrival at L2 with comments from NASA chief Bill Nelson and others.

The James Webb Space Telescope is “home”

Today (Jan. 24), the James Webb Space Telescope arrived in orbit around L2, the second sun-Earth Lagrange point, its final destination after a protracted almost million-mile (1.5 million kilometers) journey from Earth. 

To learn more about Webb’s arrival at L2, take a look at this text on Space.com here.

Webb arrives at L2!

The James Webb Space Telescope has arrived!

Webb has accomplished the mid-course correction burn (MCC2), an insertion burn that has guided it into its orbit around its final home in space, NASA announced in a blog post today (Jan. 24). 

Starting at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), the space telescope fired its onboard thrusters for about five minutes (297 seconds) to finish this burn maneuver. The burn added nearly 2.6 miles per hour (1.6 meters per second) (a walking pace, NASA noted), to Webb’s speed because the craft sailed right into a halo orbit around its destination: L2, the second sun-Earth Lagrange point. 

L2, which lies nearly one million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth opposite the sun, is a gravitationally stable point that Webb will orbit as it really works. Webb will spend the subsequent few weeks in its recent home cooling down before taking about five months to arrange its science instruments to get to work.

“Webb, welcome home!” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said within the blog post. “Congratulations to the team for all of their exertions ensuring Webb’s secure arrival at L2 today. We’re one step closer to uncovering the mysteries of the universe. And I can’t wait to see Webb’s first recent views of the universe this summer!”

Join NASA live at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) here to learn more concerning the successful arrival and what’s next for Webb.

Insertion burn starting!

The James Webb Space Telescope has begun its mid-course correction burn (MCC2), the insertion burn that can ease it into its halo orbit around its ultimate home in space: L2, the second Lagrange point. 

Lagrange points are gravitationally stable points in space, and L2 is positioned almost one million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from Earth on the alternative side of the sun. This vantage point will help Webb to remain cold, which is crucial for its science instruments to work as planned.

Join NASA experts LIVE at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) to listen to about Webb’s progress and recent home at L2. 

About to start insertion burn!

Webb is about to fireplace its thrusters to get to its ultimate destination!

Today (Jan. 24), the James Webb Space Telescope makes its arrival at its recent home in space, in orbit around L2, the second sun-Earth Lagrange point which lies on the alternative side of Earth because the sun. 

To get into orbit around L2, Webb is starting what’s generally known as the mid-course correction burn (MCC2), an insertion burn that can ease the space telescope into its operating orbit, a halo orbit, around L2. 

Webb will begin MCC2 at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) and, at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT), NASA officials will probably be updating the general public and answering questions live right here.

Today is the day!

Nearly a month after its stunning Christmas Day launch, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is as a result of arrive in orbit around L2 today (Jan. 24).

At about 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), the mission team will direct the observatory to fireplace its thrusters for about five minutes, completing the long journey of nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers).

NASA won’t be broadcasting the burn live, but scientists will probably be talking about what’s next for the observatory during a 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) broadcast and the agency will hold a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) as well. You may watch each events survive Space.com.

Although arrival in orbit marks the last major milestone within the observatory’s deployment, the telescope is not quite able to do science. The mission team still needs to exactly align the 18 golden mirror segments into one vast reflector and to calibrate the observatory’s instruments.

NASA has said to expect the James Webb Space Telescope to start science operations this summer.

James Webb Space Telescope 1 day from L2

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is in the future away from arriving at its final destination for its ambitious science mission: a gravitationally stable point in space generally known as the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2, or L2. 

As of 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT), the Webb Space Telescope was about 17,310 miles (27,854 kilometers) away from the L2 location, and about 893,897 miles (1,438,484 km) from the Earth. The L2 location is almost 1 million miles from Earth on the alternative side of the Earth from the sun.

Webb is anticipated to enter orbit across the L2 point on Monday, Jan. 24. To accomplish that, it should fire its thrusters at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) on Monday for just a few minutes to push it the ultimate distance into L2 orbit. 

NASA is anticipated to host a live webcast of the L2 arrival insertion burn and follow it up with a NASA Science Live program to debate the event at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT). At 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT), NASA will hold a press teleconference on the event to debate the subsequent steps for the space telescope. 

L2 on Monday

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is just just a few days away from its arrival at its home in space: L2, or the second Lagrange point, gravitationally stable points in space. L2 is positioned on the side of Earth opposite the sun.

While NASA had previously expected Webb to reach at L2 on Jan. 23, 29 days after its Dec. 25 launch,  Webb is now expected to start its mid-course correction burn (MCCB), or insertion burn, into an orbit around L2 on Monday (Jan. 24).

You may have the opportunity to observe a live broadcast with scientists and engineers operating the space telescope on Monday at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).

Next stop, L2.

Webb’s next major milestone will probably be its arrival in orbit around some extent in space called the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2, or L2. This video explains where L2 is and why the observatory will camp out in orbit around it.

Mirror deployment is complete

The 18 primary mirror segments of the James Webb Space Telescope are fully deployed, in keeping with a tweet from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. The observatory has one deployment milestone outstanding, a final course correction burn. Read more>

Fast forward to Webb’s first look

NASA is continuous to regulate the person mirror segments of the James Webb Space Telescope because the observatory continues its trek to orbit nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from Earth. Within the meantime, we’re waiting for the large moment: What’s going to the observatory take a look at first? Read more>

Time to regulate those mirrors

NASA has confirmed that the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope have begun the strategy of aligning the observatory’s mirrors, which were stowed for launch. The preliminary adjustments will take about 10 days, in keeping with a mission timeline, although NASA expects to spend about three months to completely align the panels right into a working telescope. Read more>

Onto Webb’s mirror segments

In line with a NASA timeline, the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope will likely begin moving the 18 individual segments of the observatory’s hexagonal golden mirror out of their launch configurations on Wednesday (Jan. 12).

This process is slow and finicky, and is anticipated to take about 10 days. Each of the 18 primary mirror segments is held in place by seven different actuators that may adjust their position and curvature super precisely. But even once this process is complete, the observatory team might want to spend about three more months getting the honeycomb of mirrors to work together to supply one sharp image.

Webb has been in space for 18 days now and is greater than 82% of the technique to its final destination. The observatory will orbit some extent called the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2, or L2, which is positioned nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from Earth on the side opposite the sun. The observatory has covered greater than 740,000 miles (1.2 million km) and has 160,000 miles (250,000 km) more to go.

You may track the telescope’s location, temperature and deployment via NASA.

Webb keeps trekking out to space

NASA has again delayed starting work on aligning the person mirror segments of the James Webb Space Telescope, in keeping with an agency timeline, with that project now scheduled to start Wednesday (Jan. 12). The method will take several days and moves the 18 individual hexagons of the golden primary mirror out of their launch configuration.

Within the meantime, Webb continues its long journey out to Earth-sun Lagrange point 2, or L2. The observatory is currently 80% of the technique to L2 and has traveled nearly 725,000 miles (1.16 million kilometers) away from Earth. To follow Webb’s journey, seek the advice of NASA’s tracking website for the observatory, which also tracks the deployment process.

Webb work continues

Adjustments to the 18 golden mirror segments of Webb’s primary mirror are as a result of begin tomorrow, Jan. 11, in keeping with the deployment timeline provided by NASA. That process is anticipated to take several days and marks the observatory’s transition from deployment into commissioning.

Meanwhile, the observatory continues its trek out to its station orbiting Earth-sun Lagrange point 2, or L2, which is positioned about 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from Earth on the side opposite the sun. As of today (Jan. 10), the telescope is greater than 78% of the technique to orbit, having traveled greater than 700,000 miles (1.1 million km) from Earth, in keeping with NASA’s observatory tracker.

Mirror alignment to start for Webb Space Telescope

With the James Webb Space Telescope now fully deployed, work is anticipated to start today to begin aligning the 18 individual mirrors that make up the observatory’s primary mirror. It just isn’t a quick process.

Full story: The James Webb Space Telescope is fully deployed. So what’s next?

“This operation is a multi-day multi-step activity to activate and move each of its 18 primary mirror segments (that are adjustable) out of their launch configuration, NASA wrote in a deployment guide. “The first mirror segments and secondary mirror are moved by six actuators which are attached to the back of every mirror piece. The first mirror segments even have a further actuator at its center that adjusts its curvature. The telescope’s tertiary mirror stays stationary.”

The first mirror is Webb’s important light collection surface. It should reflect light to the tertiary mirror positioned on booms in front of the telescope, which then bounces the sunshine into Webb’s instruments. 

Each of the 18 segments of the first mirror is plated in a shiny, but ultra thin, layer of gold. If left in launch position, they’d act as individual telescopes with images that will be fuzzy and unclear. Once aligned, the mirror segments will act as one giant mirror 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) across, the biggest ever in space. 

NASA has estimated that it could take as much as 120 days after launch for Webb’s mirror alignment work to be complete. The primary photos from Webb should not expected until about five months after launch once commissioning ends. — Tariq Malik

Here’s a take a look at how Webb’s focusing works: 

James Webb Space Telescope deployment success

An elated mission team for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope confirmed that the space observatory is in great shape after a deployment phase that was 100% successful.

“It’s a totally deployed telescope able to perform improbable science to expand our knowledge,” said John Durning, Webb Deputy Project Manager of NASA Goddard.

Up next for the Webb team is a five-month commissioning phase to calibrate the telescope’s optics and adjust its mirrors. Webb is currently making its technique to its final observing site nearly 1 million miles (1.6 km) from Earth and is as a result of arrive around Jan. 23. 

To enter orbit around its Lagrange 2 point, Webb could have to perform a brief maneuver, however it is anticipated to go well. 

You may read our wrap story on today’s Webb mirror deployment success here. — Tariq Malik

NASA Webb Space Telescope press conference underway

NASA’s post-deployment press conference is underway now and you may watch it live within the video window at the highest of this page. 

NASA is holding two panels, one on the deployment’s success and the opposite on what’s next for the Webb Space Telescope. 

Here’s a rundown of the speakers for the briefing:

Panel on Webb Space Telescope deployment success

Bill Ochs, Webb Project Manager, NASA Goddard

Mike Menzel, Mission Systems Engineer, NASA Goddard 

Scott Willoughby, Vice President and Program Manager, Webb, Northrop Grumman

Vince Heeg, Deputy Program Manager, Northrop Grumman

Panel on what’s next for James Webb Space Telescope

John Durning, Webb Deputy Project Manager, NASA Goddard

Lee Feinberg, Webb Optical Telescope Element Manager, NASA Goddard

Jane Rigby, Webb Operations Project Scientist, NASA Goddard 

Heidi Hammel, Vice President for Science, Space Telescope Science Institute

Success! Webb Space Telescope primary mirror latched

James Webb Space Telescope mission engineers confirmed that the observatory’s starboard primary mirror wing successfully latched into place at 1:17 p.m. EST (1817 GMT), marking an end to a two-week process that was NASA’s most-complicated deployment in space telescope history. 

Cheers erupted at Webb’s mission operations center on the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, because the mission team now prepares for an arduous three-month process to align and calibrate the $10 billion space telescope. 

“Today, NASA achieved one other engineering milestone a long time within the making!” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Twitter. “While the journey just isn’t complete, I join the Webb team in respiration just a little easier and imagining the longer term breakthroughs sure to encourage the world.”

NASA will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. EST (1930 GMT) for today’s successful deployment. You may have the opportunity to observe that live here at start time.

Latching underway for Webb telescope mirror

James Webb Space Telescope engineers have passed the halfway mark in latching the observatory’s starboard mirror wing in place. 

The latching process began shortly after 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) and was expected to take around two hours to finish.

Webb Space Telescope mirror fully deployed!

It’s official, the first mirror of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is totally deployed, the ultimate step of its unprecedented two-week deployment phase that began with a Dec. 25 launch. 

“I just feel this type of glow in my chest at once just seeing that mirror deployed all together,” NASA scientist Michelle Thaller said in a live webcast because the Webb mission team applauded and shared high-fives. 

Webb space telescope starboard mirror in motion

The Webb Space Telescope’s mission operations team has commanded Webb to deploy its starboard mirror wing. 

It should take 4 to five minutes for the mirror segment to swing into place, after which it should take just a few hours to latch into place. 

Launch locks released from Webb mirror

The 4 launch locks securing the Webb Space Telescope’s starboard mirror wing in place have successfully been unlocked, freeing the mirror segment for its final move.

A series of motors successfully worked to unlock the launch locks. They were the ultimate critical movies of 178 mechanism firings that were vital to go easily for Webb’s deployment over the past two weeks, NASA says. Those actions were non-redundant, if one failed it will have doomed the Webb Space Telescope. 

“178 out of 178, congratulations,” Webb’s Mission Operations Manager just said.  

The mirror segment is anticipated to start slowly moving soon, with major movement to start in about 20 minutes. Once in place, it should take about two hours to latch it securely in place. — Tariq Malik

Final mirror unfolding begins for Webb Space Telescope

NASA has begun unfolding the ultimate mirror wing for the James Webb Space Telescope. You may watch it within the live video feed at the highest of this page. 

Telescope controllers are working to send commands that can remove the launch locks on Webb’s starboard mirror wing. Today’s mirror unfolding will swing three final mirror segments into place to finish the 18-segment primary mirror deployment, the ultimate step for Webb’s two-week deployment phase. 

Here’s a more in-depth take a look at the first mirror of James Webb Space Telescope

Webb Space Telescope final deployment underway

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope mirror deployment webcast is underway. You may watch it above here hosted by NASA scientist Michelle Thaller. 

NASA to webcast Webb final mirror deployment

Update for 9 a.m. EST: NASA’s live webcast appears delayed. Once it begins, it should appear on this page.

It’s a significant day for the James Webb Space Telescope. Two weeks after its Dec. 25 launch, The Webb space telescope is scheduled to unfold its final mirror segment today, Jan. 8, today.  

NASA will webcast the deployment of the Webb’s starboard primary mirror segment live, with a livestream starting no sooner than 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT). You may have the opportunity to observe that survive this page once it begins. 

Today’s mirror deployment will use motors to swing Webb’s starboard primary mirror wing, which consists of three mirror segments, into its final position. It should then be latched into place. 

“Upon completion, Webb could have concluded its major deployment sequence,” NASA officials wrote in an update on Friday after Webb’s port mirror wing was deployed.

After today’s mirror deployment, NASA will hold a press conference to start no sooner than 1:30 p.m. EST ( 1730 GMT). — Tariq Malik

Live webcast delayed to Saturday

The Virtual Telescope Project’s live webcast of the James Webb Space Telescope in deep space has been postponed until Saturday (Jan. 8), because clouds above the observatory Italy didn’t clear up in time to see it today. The webcast is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT). 

The weather forecast for Saturday’s remark looks more promising, Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project told Space.com in an email. 

Virtual Telescope Project JWST webcast delayed

Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project near Rome, Italy will broadcast live views of the distant James Webb Space Telescope today, starting at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT). The webcast was originally scheduled to start an hour earlier, but clouds are currently blocking the view. 

You may tune in live within the window above, courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project.

Read more: Watch the James Webb Space Telescope soar through space on this livestream today!

1st mirror wing deployed

The James Webb Space Telescope unfolded the primary of two wing segments on its hexagonal gold-coated primary mirror on Friday (Jan. 7). NASA received confirmation of the successful deployment at roughly 2:11 p.m. EST (1911 GMT), agency officials wrote in a blog post.  

Full story: James Webb Space Telescope has unfolded 1st wing of massive golden mirror

Webb’s important mirror deployment has begun!

The James Webb Space Telescope has begun unfolding the left side panel of its golden primary mirror, in keeping with a NASA statement published just before 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT). The panel holds three of the hexagonal mirror segments the observatory uses to catch light.

In the course of the deployment, team members will unlatch the wing from its stored position, then motors will unfold the panel in a process expected to take about five minutes. Then, the team will spend about two hours latching the panel into place, in keeping with the statement.

The team is anticipated to repeat the method tomorrow (Jan. 8) on the fitting side of the observatory, which can mark the last major unfolding from the spacecraft’s launch position. That event will probably be livestreamed starting around 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), NASA has stated.

Webb important mirror deployment begins today

The James Webb Space Telescope will begin its final major unfolding events today with the primary of two primary mirror deployments. 

Today, Webb is anticipated to unfold and secure its port primary mirror wing, which incorporates three of the space telescope’s 18 hexagon-shaped mirror segments. 

“Webb’s final series of major deployments is planned to begin tomorrow, Jan. 7, with the rotation into position of the primary of two primary mirror wings,” NASA wrote in an update on Jan. 6. “The second primary mirror wing – Webb’s final major spacecraft deployment – is planned for Saturday, Jan. 8.”

Webb’s two primary mirror wings, port and starboard, each have three mirror segments. They were folded back behind the central mirror face during launch to be able to fit contained in the payload fairing of Webb’s Ariane 5 rocket. 

In other Webb news, the European Space Agency released a shocking HD video of the James Webb Space Telescope captured just after it separated from its Ariane 5 rocket. You may watch that video of Webb here. It’s the last view of the space telescope we’ll ever see.

Why is it the last view? The James Webb Space Telescope doesn’t have onboard cameras. 

Webb Mirror deployment webcast update

That is an update to notice that NASA’s webcast of the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirror deployment will actually occur on Saturday, Jan. 8, at a time still to be determined based on NASA’s latest live broadcast schedule. 

Webb’s flight controllers plan to deploy the the telescope’s aft radiator as soon as today before proceeding with the port and starboard mirror deployments on Friday and Saturday. Sorry for any confusion, space fans! — Tariq Malik

James Webb Space Telescope to deploy port mirror wing

The James Webb Space Telescope is anticipated to start unfolding its primary mirror today, Jan. 6, starting with the port side. 

In what could possibly be a two-day process, Webb will unfold first the port side after which the starboard side wings of its 18-segment primary mirror, which is made up of shiny gold hexagons. There are three mirror segments on each wing. 

Each of the wings were folded for launch to be able to fit contained in the payload fairing of Webb’s Ariane 5 rocket. 

While the mirror unfolding process is scheduled to take two days, it could occur faster. Webb’s mission operations team has been running ahead of schedule for several key steps. 

NASA will webcast today’s Webb mirror deployment on NASA TV. A time has not been released for the webcast’s start. Once now we have more information, we’ll share that here. — Tariq Malik

James Webb Space Telescope secondary mirror latched securely

The secondary mirror of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is now securely latched into place, marking a successful end to today’s deployment step. NASA’s webcast has ended. You may read our full story by senior author Tereza Pultarova here.

Deploying the mirror is the newest critical step for the Webb space telescope. The secondary mirror will focus light from the important mirror into the observatory’s optics. 

Over the subsequent few days, Webb will deploy its aft radiator, followed by folding out the 2 side segments, or wings, of its important mirror. Those steps will mark the ultimate major deployment stages of the telescope. 

Engineers will still must move each of the 18 primary mirror segments out of their launch configuration in order that they may be calibrated for observations. Once that’s complete (slated for 15 days after launch), the subsequent major step will probably be Webb’s arrival into orbit around its L2 point.

Webb space telescope secondary mirror deployed

NASA reports that the secondary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope has successfully unfolded and is now in position. 

Mission operations controllers at the moment are working to drive latches into place to secure the mirror in its deployed configuration. Here’s a glance of how the operation went:

NASA Webb mirror deployment webcast begins

NASA’s live webcast of the James Webb Space Telescope’s secondary mirror deployment has begun! You may watch live within the window above.

NASA to Webbcast secondary tescope mirror deployment

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will deploy its secondary mirror today and you may have the opportunity to follow the milestone live in a webcast today starting at 10:20 a.m. EST (1520 GMT). 

During this step, Webb will unfold a series of booms that hold the secondary mirror out in front of the observatory’s important multi-segmented mirror. You may have the opportunity to observe the live webcast on this page once it begins, and you may watch it directly from NASA here.

“Webb’s secondary mirror is at the top of the Secondary Mirror Support Structure (SMSS),” NASA wrote in a deployment description. “Because it is deployed, its long booms will swing the secondary mirror out in front of the first mirror. The secondary mirror plays a crucial role in reflecting the sunshine from the first mirror to where the instruments sit, behind the first mirror.”

On Monday, Webb accomplished its huge sunshield deployment. Here’s a take a look at what’s ahead this week for the James Webb Space Telescope this week.

Hearken to NASA’s sunshield briefing

Today’s live broadcast of the Webb telescope sunshield and deployments media teleconference didn’t air survive NASA TV because the agency said it will — but you may now take heed to a recording of the briefing on YouTube. 

NASA briefing coming soon…

NASA officials will hold a media teleconference at 12:45 p.m EST (1745 GMT) today to debate the recently accomplished deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope’s sunshield and go over next steps for the observatory. 

You may take heed to the teleconference live within the window above, courtesy of NASA TV, or directly via nasa.gov/live.

James Webb Space Telescope sunshield tensioning complete!

NASA has just confirmed that the fifth and final layer of the James Webb Space Telescope’s heat shield has been successfully tensioned, marking the top of the sunshield deployment work that began last week.

“That is an historic day,” NASA scientist Michelle Thaller said during a live webcast. “The primary major phase of the deployment of the sunshield has been compete.”

Our wrap story on the event will probably be posted shortly.

NASA webcast for Webb sunshield tensioning

It’s Day 2 of sunshield tensioning for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the space agency will webcast live views from Webb’s mission operations center in Baltimore, Maryland today starting at 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT). You may have the opportunity to observe that live here within the window above at start time.

NASA didn’t state how long the webcast will last, however the agency does have one other event scheduled for 11:25 a.m. EST from the International Space Station, so it likely won’t last beyond that. 

Webb’s sunshield tightening is the ultimate step within the intricate unfurling of the space telescope’s tennis court-sized shield to guard it from sunlight and keep it cool enough for science. It involves using a series of motors to position and tighten the five ultra-thin layers of Webb’s reflective sunshield. 

The method began on Monday, Jan. 3, with Layer 1 tightening and was expected to finish as soon as Wednesday, Jan. 5. Nevertheless, NASA is way ahead of schedule. As of late Monday, three of the five sunshield layers have been successfully tightened, the agency said in an update on Twitter.

Webb space telescope in good health, tensioning starting

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is in good health and can begin tensioning its huge sunshield today, its mission team said today. 

In a media teleconference, NASA officials said Webb will begin tightening the strain on the first layer of the five-layer sunshield on Webb today after two days of rest and power system optimization. 

Two issues occurred over the Recent Yr’s Day holiday weekend.

First, Webb’s solar arrays weren’t generating as much power as they may as a result of their factory settings. At no point was the space telescope in need of power, but NASA rebalanced the arrays in order that they’ll now work at their peak efficiency. 

Second, the motors used to tension Webb’s sunshield weren’t staying cool enough as flight controllers preferred. They commanded Webb to vary its orientation in space in a way that can keep its motors cooler through the deployment phase. 

With each of those fixes in, Webb appears to be doing well in its deployment. 

The tensioning process for Webb’s sunshield should take at the very least three days, NASA officials said.

NASA to carry press conference on Webb deployment

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11:30 a.m. EST (1630 GMT) today, Jan. 3, and you may take heed to it live here, courtesy of NASA TV. It’s also possible to watch directly from NASA here.

This teleconference will update the general public on the James Webb Space Telescope’s deployment after its sunshield was deployed on Dec. 31. 

NASA paused deployment activities on Saturday, Jan. 1, to provide its team a rest. The team then spent Sunday studying Webb’s power systems before proceeding with the ultimate steps for sunshield deployment.

James Webb Space Telescope tension could begin today

After a day of delay, NASA James Webb Space Telescope flight controllers are expected to start the sunshield tightening process on the brand new space observatory today, Jan. 3. 

The method, which could take at the very least two days, was initially slated to start yesterday, but NASA opted to face down and as an alternative study Webb’s power systems to make certain they were working properly after per week in space. 

The sunshield tightening process involves activating a series of motors on Webb that can separate, after which tighten, the five layers of the space telescope’s gossamer sunshield, which is blocks out sunlight from the infrared observatory’s sensitive instruments so it could possibly higher study the universe.  — Tariq Malik

NASA delays Webb sunshield tensioning

NASA flight controllers have delayed today’s planned tensioning of the James Webb Space Telescope’s sunshield to be able to work on the observatory’s power systems. 

“This can ensure Webb is in prime condition to start the subsequent major deployment step in its unfolding process,” NASA officials wrote in an update today (Jan. 2). 

Read our full story by Senior Author Meghan Bartels.

The sunshield tensioning process will now begin no sooner than Monday, Jan. 3, and is anticipated to take at the very least two days. Flight controllers made the choice earlier today to be able to optimize the ability systems on the Webb space telescope.

“Specifically, the team is analyzing how the ability subsystem is working now that several of the foremost deployments have been accomplished,” NASA wrote within the update. “Concurrently, the deployments team is working to make certain motors which are key to the tensioning process are on the optimal temperatures prior to starting that operation.”

Webb’s step-by-step deployment process is designed in such a way that it could possibly be stopped and commenced along the way in which as required, in keeping with NASA officials. The flight control team wants to make use of some time beyond regulation to higher understand how Webb is behaving in space, and the way it’s differing from simulations based on computer testing on the bottom.

“Nothing we will learn from simulations on the bottom is pretty much as good as analyzing the observatory when it’s up and running,” said Bill Ochs, NASA’s Webb project manager on the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said within the update. “Now could be the time to take the chance to learn every little thing we will about its baseline operations. Then we are going to take the subsequent steps.” — Tariq Malik

Webb ratchets up the strain today

It is time to raise the strain on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. 

After taking Recent Yr’s Break day on Saturday to rest up after a protracted Friday night unfolding Webb’s massive sunshield, the mission team goals to start tensioning the shield’s five layers today to lock them in place. 

It should take at the very least two full days to lock Webb’s sunshield in place, which marks the ultimate step in its weeklong deployment process. The method involves Webb separating the five layers of its sunshield, which unfolded in a single group after which tensioning them so that they are tightly secured for the space telescope’s lifetime. 

NASA expects to finish the sunshield tightening step on Monday, Jan. 3, and can then hold a press teleconference to update the general public on the space telescope’s status. – Tariq Malik

Taking a rest day

The team overseeing the deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope are taking today (Jan. 1) off, in keeping with a NASA statement. Yesterday’s procedure, deploying the 2 booms that support the width of the observatory’s massive sunshield, ran later into the day than personnel had hoped. And the subsequent step is much more daunting: a two-day strategy of separating the five delicate layers of the vast sunshield.

That work will begin tomorrow (Jan. 2), the statement noted, and is anticipated to take two days to finish. Read more>

James Webb unfurls its sunshield!

The James Webb Space Telescope successfully unfurled its massive sunshield on Friday (Dec. 31), notching an enormous milestone in its long and sophisticated deployment campaign. Read our full story about it here.

The sunshield, which can help keep Webb’s optics and instruments cool enough to detect faint heat signals from the early universe, unfolded via two “mid-booms,” which were prolonged over two roughly three-hour stretches on Friday.

The boom extension activities were delayed barely while Webb team members checked to make certain the sunshield’s protective cover had fully rolled up as needed. But every little thing worked out just nice.

“Today is an example of why we proceed to say that we don’t think our deployment schedule might change, but that we it to vary,” Keith Parrish, Webb observatory manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a blog post update Friday night.

“The team did what we had rehearsed for this type of situation — stop, assess and move forward methodically with a plan,” Parrish said. “We still have a protracted technique to go together with this whole deployment process.”

Next up is tensioning of the sunshield’s five layers, which could possibly be complete as early as Sunday (Jan. 2). After that, the Webb team will shift their focus to mirror deployment.

Sunshield halfway unfurled!

The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed its sunshield port mid-boom, unfurling half of the large membranous structure.

“The deployment of the 5 telescoping segments of the mid-boom began around 1:30pm ET and reached full deployment at 4:49 pm,” mission team members said via Twitter today (Dec. 31). “Webb’s deployment steps are all human-controlled, so the schedule can change. The team plans to deploy the starboard mid-boom tonight.”

There was indeed a schedule change today: The mid-boom deployments were presupposed to occur earlier, but Webb’s handlers took time beyond regulation to make certain the sunshield’s protective cover had fully rolled up as planned, mission team members explained in one other tweet.  

Sunshield deployment is certainly one of the riskiest, most complex activities the $10 billion observatory will perform during its time in space. So keep your fingers crossed that every little thing goes well tonight and over the weekend, when the team plans to bring the deployed shield’s layers as much as the correct tension.

James Webb Space Telescope to deploy sunshield booms

It’s an enormous day for the James Webb Space Telescope. 

Today is the day the large space observatory will deploy the 2 mid-booms on it port and starboard side that can extend its sunshield out to its full width. The port boom will probably be prolonged first, followed by the starboard boom. Motors will drive each events. 

Each mid-boom will deploy with its five sunshield membrane layers attached. If it goes easily, Webb will spend the subsequent two days tightening the strain of the sunshield so it isn’t loose. 

Wondering why it takes so many steps to deploy Webb’s sunshield? Our Senior Author Mike Wall has the complete story here today.

Webb deploys flab, removes sunshield covers

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope successfully accomplished its two critical deployments for today, the space agency announced. 

In back-to-back updates, NASA officials confirmed that the Webb space telescope successfully deployed its aft momentum flap and retracted the protective membrane covers on its gossamer sunshield, a significant step within the weeklong work to unfurl the shield. 

Read the complete story from Senior Author Chelsea Gohd here.

The membrane covers protected Webb’s sunshield, which will probably be as large as a tennis court when deployed, during launch. You may see an animation of how the duvet retraction went in space above. 

Here’s a close-up graphic below of the aft momentum flap, which is designed to regular Webb against the push of solar wind against its huge sunshield. — Tariq Malik

2 deployment steps for Webb telescope today

It has been five days since NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launched into space on the observatory has two steps planned for today to proceed its ultra-complicated deployment. 

Today, Webb is anticipated to unfold a aft momentum flap, a three-panel structure at the underside rear of the telescope designed to offset among the pressure from the solar wind on Webb’s massive sunshield. The flap should help Webb conserve fuel during its mission life because it limits the additional push on the telescope from the solar wind.

Later, Webb is anticipated to retract the sunshield membrane covers which have been protecting its thin sunshield layers since launch. The step would require a series of release devices to be activated that can then retract and roll up the membrane covers (two per sunshield pallet, fore and aft) to uncover the sunshield itself. 

When deployed, the five-layer sunshield will probably be concerning the size of a tennis court. But there are 50 distinct steps to get it into place.

You may explore exactly how Webb is unfolding at NASA’s Deployment Explorer website here. — Tariq Malik

JWST extends its Deployable Tower Assembly

The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully accomplished the deployment of the tower assembly that separates the 2 important halves of the spacecraft. 

The observatory’s Deployable Tower Assembly took just a little over 6.5 hours to increase, creating about 4 feet (1.2 meters) of space between the mirror assembly and the spacecraft’s bus, which houses its electronics and propulsion systems, NASA officials said in an announcement.

“This creates enough distance to permit the sensitive mirrors and instruments to chill right down to the vital temperatures to detect infrared light,” NASA said within the statement. “This gap may even provide room for the sunshield membranes to totally unfold.”

Read the complete story here

Correction: This post was updated to correct the gap of space created by the tower deployment, it’s 4 feet, not 2 feet.

Next up: Deployable Tower Assembly

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun extending its Deployable Tower Assembly, in keeping with an agency update. The method, which began shortly after 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), will take at the very least six hours and creates space for the observatory’s sunshield to deploy.

Excellent news: Webb has loads of fuel for years of science

In line with a NASA update, the James Webb Space Telescope could have enough fuel to greater than double its minimum lifetime because of the precision of its launch and the 2 trajectory corrections the spacecraft has made to this point.

“The Webb team has analyzed its initial trajectory and determined the observatory must have enough propellant to permit support of science operations in orbit for significantly greater than a 10-year science lifetime. (The minimum baseline for the mission is five years.)” agency officials wrote in an update posted Dec. 29.

Nevertheless, NASA emphasized that it just isn’t providing a brand new mission timeline for the long-awaited observatory. “Consequently, Webb could have far more than the baseline estimate of propellant — though many aspects could ultimately affect Webb’s duration of operation,” officials wrote within the statement. Read more>

Webb’s sunshield unfolds some more

The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully accomplished deploying each pallet structures of its sunshield, notching one other milestone within the five-day-long strategy of unfurling the huge sunshield. 

After deploying the forward pallet earlier today, the aft pallet finished deploying at roughly 7:27 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 28 (0027 GMT on Dec. 29).

“While the actual motion to lower the forward pallet from its stowed to its deployed position took only 20 minutes, and the lowering of the aft pallet took only 18 minutes, the general process took several hours for every due to dozens of additional steps required,” NASA officials said in an announcement. 

“These include closely monitoring structural temperatures, maneuvering the observatory with respect to the sun to supply optimal temperatures, turning on heaters to warm key components, activating release mechanisms, configuring electronics and software, and ultimately latching the pallets into place.”

Sunshield deployment has begun!

The James Webb Space Telescope has begun deploying its massive sunshield, a significant component of the observatory. The spacecraft unfolded its Forward Unitized Pallet Structure, which supports the sunshield, on Tuesday (Dec. 28). Read more>

Webb has crossed the moon’s orbit

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is now farther from Earth than the moon’s orbit, in keeping with an agency update posted late Monday (Dec. 27). The spacecraft also accomplished its second of three trajectory correction burns. Next up, the observatory will begin deploying its massive sunshield. Read more>

Webb telescope maneuver planned

It’s day three of NASA’s “29 days on the sting” for the James Webb Space Telescope and today’s important goal is to perform the second of three mid-course correction burns to refine Webb’s path to its recent home at Lagrange point 2, or L2, nearly 1 million miles (1.6 million km) from Earth.  

Latest story: James Webb Space Telescope successfully deploys antenna 

Webb performed its first, and largest, course correction burn on Saturday, Dec. 25, after launching into space. The third burn will occur on day 29 to enter its final orbit across the L2 point. 

Here’s how NASA describes today’s planned burn on its deployment guide: 

“This burn fine-tunes Webb’s trajectory after launch. The duration of the burn will rely on Ariane 5 launcher performance.

“There are three mid-course correction (MCC) maneuvers: MCC-1a, MCC-1b, and MCC-2. That is the second. The primary burn, MCC-1a, is a very powerful and the one other time-critical operation except for solar array deployment during Webb’s commissioning period.

“The second, MCC-1b, is a shorter burn performed before the sunshield deployment is scheduled to begin. The ultimate maneuver, MCC-2, performed 29 days after launch, is designed to insert Webb into the optimum orbit around L2. 

Antenna deployment successful

A day after launch, the James Webb Space Telescope continues to travel away from Earth and set itself up for observations within the months to come back.

Starting on Sunday (Dec. 26) at about 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT), the spacecraft deployed and tested a key antenna in a process that took about one hour, in keeping with a NASA statement. The antenna will probably be liable for twice-daily science data dumps to Earth.

As well as, the spacecraft’s temperature sensors and strain gauges began work overnight. The subsequent stage within the telescope’s deployment, in keeping with NASA, will probably be a second course-correction burn scheduled to occur about two days after launch.

Crucial burn complete, NASA says

The James Webb Space Telescope successfully executed a significant burn to correct its trajectory, in keeping with a NASA statement. The burn began at 7:50 p.m. EST (0050 GMT) and lasted for 65 minutes, in keeping with the agency. The maneuver also marked the last step of the mission’s deployment that needed to be executed at a selected time; any more, mission personnel can adapt the deployment timeline as needed. Read more>

Presidential congratulations

President Joe Biden offered his congratulations on the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope the evening of its flawless launch. “Congratulations @NASA and all who made today’s launch of the James Webb telescope possible,” Biden wrote in a tweet. “Webb is a shining example of the ability of what we will accomplish once we dream big. We have all the time known that this project could be a dangerous endeavor, but with big risk comes big rewards.”

Where is NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope?

It has been just over 7 hours since NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launched into space and the space telescope is currently greater than 67,800 miles (109,110 kilometers) away and climbing because it makes its way toward its destination: Lagrange Point 2.  

Full story: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches on epic mission to check early universe

More: ‘It’s truly Christmas’: James Webb Space Telescope’s yuletide launch has NASA overjoyed

In photos: The Christmas launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

You may track the Webb space telescope with NASA’s Where is Webb website online, which uses real-time telemetry from the spacecraft to present a precise picture of where the space telescope is and at what stage its deployment is in.

It should take about 29 days for Webb to achieve L2 nearly 1 million miles (1.6 million km) from Earth, and about six months before it should be able to begin snapping images of the universe.

The subsequent milestone for Webb will probably be a mid-course correction burn, a maneuver in deep space to fine-tune the space telescope on its path to L2.

‘It’s truly Christmas!’ NASA on JWST launch

NASA chief Bill Nelson called today’s successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope a “good day for Earth” as NASA and its partners rejoice the successful starting of a $10 billion mission. 

Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science missions, said it is a Christmas to recollect.

“What am amazing day,” Zurbuchen said. “It’s truly Christmas with all of the presents and every little thing and now we have an area mission.”

Post-launch press conference for JWST

With NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope successfully launched, the space agency and its partners will hold a press conference soon to rejoice the successful liftoff.

The press conference is anticipated to start by 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT) and may include the heads of agencies who built James Webb, in addition to leading mission scientists. 

You may watch it live within the window above. Meanwhile, here’s a glance back at today’s successful launch.

James Webb Space Telescope launch successful

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is successfully in space and starting its monthlong trek to its L2 home about 1 million miles from Earth. 

Full story: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches on epic mission to check early universe

“It’s an incredible day for planet Earth,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said after the launch. “We’re going to discover incredible things that we never imagined.”

The accolades are pouring in from the space agencies who worked together to place the space telescope along with a series of interviews on NASA TV. 

Spacecraft separation and solar array deploy

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has successfully separated from its Ariane 5 rocket and deployed its solar array to mark a flawless trip into space after today’s launch.

A camera on Webb’s Ariane 5 rocket upper stage beamed live views of the event, with solar array deployment occurring a bit early.

‘Go, Webb, go!” rang cheers from Arianespace launch control on the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.

2nd stage shutdown

2nd stage shutdown: The Ariane 5 upper stage engine carrying NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has shut down as planned. 

James Webb Space Telescope on target during ascent

The Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope continues its 2nd stage burn to hold the telescope into space. 

“Very quiet now within the room,” NASA spokesperson Rob Navias says of launch control.  Officials with NASA, Arianespace and their partners are watching telemetry rigorously, he says. 

Thus far, all systems are working as expected.

“Today’s countdown was as flawless as you may imagine,” Navias said. “Every thing fell together on this Christmas Day to send a brand new present to the world’s astronomers.”

4 minutes of powered flight remain.

Upper Stage separation and ignition

Stage Separation: The Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has jettisoned its important stage and ignited its upper stage to proceed powering the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit.

View of James Webb Space Telescope on Ariane 5

A camera aboard today’s Ariane 5 rocket launch has captured a view of the James Webb Space Telescope folded up for launch. 

You may see that image above here. 

Webb continues its ascent on its Ariane 5.

Stage separation for Ariane 5, Fairing separation

Stage separation: The two strap on boosters for the Ariane 5 rocket carrying the James Webb Space Telescope have separated as planned.

The rocket has also jettisoned its payload fairing.

“All parameters normal,” Arianespace reports.

Liftoff for the James Webb Space Telescope!

LIFTOFF! NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches on a mission to search out the earliest light of the universe

James Webb Space Telescope in final countdown

The Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is now in its final automated launch countdown sequence. 

A final launch weather check reveals good conditions for launch, Arianespace reports.

Lower than 3 minutes remain until launch. 

JWST launching 53 years after Apollo 8 Christmas broadcast

NASA spokesperson Rob Navias took a moment in today’s James Webb Space Telescope launch broadcast to remind viewers Webb is launching on Christmas Day, 53 years after NASA’s Apollo 8 crew beamed a Christmas Eve message to Earth from the moon. In that Christmas broadcast in 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts read from the Bible’s Book of Genesis to mark the vacation.

“Today, greater than a half century later. we’re just minutes away from one other Genesis, the genesis of a brand new era of discovery,” Navias said. “The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope is at hand.”

James Webb Space Telescope on internal power

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is on internal battery power for today’s launch, a significant milestone head of launch. NASA spokesperson Rob Navias says the observatory will remain on internal battery power until its solar arrays deploy about Half-hour after liftoff.

It is a cloudy day in Kourou for today’s launch, but Navias says all systems are still green.

“Don’t let those clouds idiot you, we’re go for launch,” Navias said. 

T-Half-hour to James Webb Space Telescope launch

The James Webb Space Telescope is lower than Half-hour from launch for today’s Ariane 5 liftoff. 

NASA spokesperson James Webb Space Telescope Rob Navias on the launch site reports all systems are green for launch to date, with liftoff on target for a 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT) ignition.

Fueling complete for James Webb Space Telescope

Arianespace reports the fueling process for the Ariane 5 rocket is now complete for today’s launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. 

NASA launch webcast live for JWST launch

Merry Christmas, space fans, it’s launch day for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. 

After months of delays, the brand new Great Observatory is able to launch at 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT) atop an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. NASA’s live launch webcast has begun for this Christmas launch, a rare event for NASA. 

NASA is kicking off its webcast with its epic trailer for the James Webb Space Telescope mission, which uses the words of famed astronomer Carl Sagan.

‘Go’ for fueling

The Ariane 5 rocket that can launch the James Webb Space Telescope will begin fueling up for liftoff soon, in keeping with the transient update just aired on NASA TV. 

“Throughout the last hour mission controllers … received a comprehensive weather briefing and we were told conditions were ‘go’ for the beginning of the loading of 175 tons of propellant into the core or first stage of the Ariane five rocket,” a NASA spokesperson said within the update on NASA TV. 

“150 tons of liquid oxygen and 25 tons of liquid hydrogen will soon be flowing into the primary stage tanks of the Ariane 5. This process will take about two hours to finish. About an hour from now some 15 tons of propellant will probably be loaded into the second stage, or upper stage, of the Ariane 5 — one other two-hour process, which ought to be complete around one hour and 22 minutes before launch.”

NASA to supply Webb telescope update

NASA officials are about to provide a standing update on the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. You may watch it live within the window above, courtesy of NASA TV, or directly via YouTube.

Just in the future left

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to be on target for a Christmas Day launch, after spending the night of Dec. 23 on the launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. Arianespace, which built the Ariane 5 rocket carrying the observatory, has confirmed that the weather forecast looks promising for the Saturday launch attempt. “Latest weather forecast just arrived and we’re still good to go for tomorrow!” the European launch provider wrote in an announcement posted to Twitter.

Webb is on the launch pad!

The Ariane 5 rocket carrying the James Webb Space Telescope made the two-hour trek out to the launch pad at Kourou, French Guiana, on Thursday (Dec. 23). See more photos

Roll-out is coming!

The James Webb Space Telescope and its Ariane 5 rocket will begin the slow march to the launch pad at Kourou, French Guiana, prematurely of the mission’s Saturday morning launch at about 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) on Dec. 23.

Christmas Day launch still on target for JWST

Arianespace, the European company liable for launching the James Webb Space Telescope, confirmed in a tweet on Wednesday (Dec. 22) afternoon that they were still targeting Christmas Day (Saturday, Dec. 25) for the launch of the huge observatory.

The rocket, an Ariane 5, will roll out to the launch pad at Kourou, French Guiana, on Thursday morning (Dec. 23), the corporate noted.

High winds delay launch to Christmas

Arianespace has announced that as a result of upper-level winds, it should not try to launch the James Webb Space Telescope on Friday (Dec. 24). The subsequent launch opportunity will probably be Saturday (Dec. 25) starting at 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT).

NASA Webb Space Telescope prelaunch briefing

With the clocking steadily ticking toward a Christmas Eve launch for the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA and its partners will hold a prelaunch teleconference for the mission today, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) and you may watch it live. 

The webcast will probably be broadcast on NASA Live and simulcast within the audio player at the highest of this page. 

Speaking during today’s prelaunch press conference will probably be:

• NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
• NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy
• Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington
• Greg Robinson, Webb program director, NASA Headquarters
• Jérôme Rives, vp, Ariane 5 Business Unit, Arianespace, Paris, France
• Amber Straughn, Webb deputy project scientist for communications, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland

Three days until launch!

With three days to go before the James Webb Space Telescope launches, NASA has released a mission trailer paired with archival audio of the long-lasting astronomer Carl Sagan. “If we crave some cosmic purpose, then allow us to find ourselves a worthy goal,” Sagan said. Watch the complete trailer above.

And learn concerning the incredible engineering behind essentially the most complex space observatory ever built with a deep dive into the telescope that “just isn’t allowed to fail” on this recent feature story.

What’s going to the James Webb Space Telescope tell us about dark matter?

The world’s strongest space telescope is about to launch, and scientists think it could reveal incredible recent details about dark matter. 

The James Webb Space Telescope is about to launch on Dec. 24. from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. By observing primarily in infrared, the huge telescope will have the opportunity to see back farther than ever into the cosmos, revealing recent details about our early universe. Nevertheless, moreover, scientists think that the scope could utilize the phenomenon generally known as gravitational lensing, from Einstein’s general theory of relativity, to not directly “observe” evidence of dark matter. 

It’s Launch Week for James Webb Space Telescope

It’s launch week for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and because the days count right down to its Christmas Eve launch on Dec. 24, we’re taking a take a look at the science promised by the large recent space observatory.

Today’s feature: James Webb Space Telescope vs. Hubble: How will their images compare?

Space.com senior author Chelsea Gohd takes a take a look at the basic differences between the long-lasting Hubble Space Telescope, which might capture images in visible light, and the James Webb Space Telescope, which is solely an infrared observatory, but one so sensitive it’s designed to see back closer to the birth of the universe than ever before.

Dec. 24 launch date confirmed for Webb space telescope

NASA and its partners officially confirmed Dec. 24 because the launch goal for the brand new James Webb Space Telescope. Liftoff is about for 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT) from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

Read our full story on the confirmed launch date here.

NASA confirmed the launch goal today in a blog post, stating that the Webb space telescope is packed inside its nosecone and attached to its Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket. 

“The James Webb Space Telescope is confirmed for the goal launch date of Dec. 24, at 7:20 a.m. EST,” NASA wrote. “Late yesterday, teams on the launch site successfully accomplished encapsulation of the observatory contained in the Ariane 5 rocket that can launch it to space. Webb’s launch final readiness review will probably be held on Tuesday Dec. 21 and, if successful, roll-out is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 22.”

Launch date confirmation coming Saturday

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to be tentatively scheduled to launch on Dec. 24, however the launch date won’t be officially confirmed until tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 18), in keeping with Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël. 

“Final encapsulation operations ongoing,” Israël tweeted late Friday. “Goal launch date is December 24 at 12:20 am UTC. Confirmation Saturday.”

NASA, ESA discussing Webb space telescope launch date

NASA and the European Space Agency are discussing their options today (Dec. 17) on when to launch the multibillion-dollar James Webb Space Telescope. 

Earlier this week, the 2 agencies and their partners delayed the Webb telescope’s Dec. 22 launch after an information cable issue prevented communications between the observatory and equipment with its Ariane 5 rocket. The launch is currently targeted for no sooner than Dec. 24, but that launch date could change. 

NASA and ESA have each said they may announce a firmer launch date by then end of the day today, Dec. 17. The faulty data cable on Webb was fixed yesterday afternoon and engineers were expected to perform final tests before making a call on whether to shut up the space telescope inside its clamshell-like payload fairing.

The Webb space telescope is NASA’s next “Great Observatory” and set to launch on an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. 

The mission has been delayed several times in recent months, from an October launch goal to late December as a result of launch preparation issues.

Data cable fixed on James Webb Space Telescope

Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science missions, announced on Twitter today that the launch team for the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope has fixed the information cable connection issue that has delayed the space observatory’s launch. A brand new launch date will probably be announced on Friday, Dec. 18. 

“Just in from the Webb launch site: The team has fixed the connection issue and @NASAWebb is within the midst of its final scheduled aliveness test before launch,” Zurbuchen wrote on Twitter. “We’ll provide a further update on the status of encapsulation and the launch date tomorrow.”

The Webb Space Telescope is currently targeted to launch no sooner than Dec. 24, two days later than planned as a result of the information cable issue.

Faulty cable caused JWST launch delay

A faulty communications cable is liable for the James Webb Space Telescope’s latest delay, in keeping with the European Space Agency. 

In a press conference today (Dec. 16), ESA officials said a faulty data designed to deliver data from the Webb space telescope  and its rocket and launch pad equipment was not working properly.

“It’s an interface issue within the electrical network connecting the observatory and the bottom support equipment,” Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA director of space transportation, said within the briefing. “It is a cable positioned within the launch table, which is experiencing some intermittent losses of information.”

Read our full story here.

JWST packed for flight

On Saturday, Dec. 11, Arianespace packed NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope for launch, installing the space telescope atop its Ariane 5 rocket for a planned launch from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. 

The actual launch date for the Webb space telescope continues to be uncertain, as NASA and Arianespace have delayed its launch (initially set for Dec. 22) to no sooner than Dec. 24. An update on launch plans for Webb is anticipated by Friday, Dec. 17, in keeping with NASA. 

NASA and Arianespace originally aimed to launch the Webb space telescope on Oct. 31 and have delayed it repeatedly as a result of integration and other issues. Watch this space for updates on a brand new firm launch date for the James Webb Space Telescope.

JWST launch delayed to Dec. 24

The James Webb Space Telescope is now scheduled to launch no sooner than Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), NASA announced today.

“The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system,” NASA officials said in an announcement. “This can delay the launch date to no sooner than Friday, Dec. 24. We are going to provide more information concerning the recent launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17.”

Read the complete story

James Webb Space Telescope able to launch

After years of development and billions of dollars, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is almost able to launch. 

Follow JWST’s last days on Earth and its future as a brand new Great Observatory for NASA, the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency and the world in our live coverage here.