James Webb Space Telescope penciled in for launch this century. Yes, Dec 18, 2021
- Reference: 1631168772
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/09/09/james_webb_telescope/
- Source link:
The huge $10bn instrument, said to be the most advanced of its kind, will be neatly folded and lift off from Earth using an Ariane 5 rocket provided by ESA and operated by Arianespace. NASA said it will ship the JWST from Northrop Grumman’s workshop in Redondo Beach, California, to Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America, where the telescope will lift off ... if everything goes to plan.
The project to build the space observatory began a quarter of a century ago in 1996. NASA’s plans for it were less grand back then, and the agency hoped to get the telescope into the heavens by 2007 for one-twentieth of today's budget. But then the mission just kept growing: more money was needed and poured into it, designs were changed, and delays were encountered.
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The JWST was [2]finally assembled some 12 years late in 2019, a year after it managed to tear its sun shield in a test. And then work to prepare it for launch was paused when the [3]coronavirus pandemic kicked off in 2020.
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After all this, NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency [6]still hoped the telescope would take off this coming October 31. Now the launch has been delayed yet again to the end of the year.
“Webb is an exemplary mission that signifies the epitome of perseverance,” [7]said Gregory Robinson, the telescope’s program director at NASA.
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“I am inspired by our dedicated team and our global partnerships that have made this incredible endeavor possible. Together, we’ve overcome technical obstacles along the way as well as challenges during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I also am grateful for the steadfast support of Congress. Now that we have an observatory and a rocket ready for launch, I am looking forward to the big day and the amazing science to come.”
And it has been a long time coming.
[9]This way up: James Webb Space Telescope gets ready for shipment after final tests
[10]Hubble Space Telescope to switch to backup memory module after instrument computer halts
[11]Behind time and way over budget, but the James Webb Space Telescope has finally been put together
[12]NASA makes the James Webb Telescope a looker with a heart of gold
“We now know the day that thousands of people have been working towards for many years, and that millions around the world are looking forward to,” Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science, [13]added . “Webb and its Ariane 5 launch vehicle are ready, thanks to the excellent work across all mission partners. We are looking forward to seeing the final preparations for launch at Europe’s Spaceport.”
The Canadians [14]chipped in that they built the JWST's Fine Guidance Sensor and its NIRISS science instrument. We're told the telescope was cleared for its December launch date following "the successful completion of final tests in August."
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The telescope will probe light sources in space mostly across infrared wavelengths; we're talking objects like young stars and planets shrouded by dust. It will help astronomers see old galaxies beyond the reach of today's telescopes so that scientists can better study the universe's history. ®
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[2] https://www.theregister.com/2019/08/29/james_webb_space_telescope/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/17/james_webb_space_telescope_launch_delay/
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[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/08/james_webb_launch/
[7] https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-readies-james-webb-space-telescope-for-december-launch
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[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/27/jwst_shipment/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/16/nasa_hubble_outage/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2019/08/29/james_webb_space_telescope/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2018/06/05/nasas_webb_telescope_baffled_by_gold/
[13] https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Targeted_launch_date_for_Webb_18_December_2021
[14] https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/jwst/news.asp#20210908
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[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
I seem to remember a mate's Dad had been working on one of the satellites in that famous Ariane failure for 10 years. Think its one of the few times he cried in public!
Really?
>> “Webb is an exemplary mission that signifies the epitome of perseverance,” said Gregory Robinson, the telescope’s program director at NASA.
Surely, he meant to say “Webb is an exemplary mission that signifies the epitome of bureaucratic mismanagement, mission creep, and pork-barreling ,” said Gregory Robinson, the telescope’s program director at NASA.
I want good scientific tools as much as the next person, but ... 20x budget overrun and 14 years schedule slippage seem a little extravagant.
Re: Really?
“Webb is an exemplary mission that signifies the epitome of bureaucratic mismanagement, mission creep, and pork-barreling,”
Yup - any large project in NASA is seen as a jobs making/pocket lining program for senators - cf. SLS, a program designed to maximise the voter returns in various senator states,,, sorry I mean a program designed to provide the next generation of safe, cheap, reliable launch systems for the futre exploitation of the local solar system....
Just like the UK really, where many Government projects are "jobs for the boys" and "money for my chums"...
Re: Really?
I don't know what you mean "jobs for the boys" ... all the £34bn was shared with carefully selected colleagues and partners. In tests, none of the cash was traced to the Cayman Islands which I believe means the test and trace programme is a complete success.
Re: Really?
Yes but, wait until you see the JWST floating out there with it's hermine fur-lined cape.
Then you'll realize it was all worth it.
I have pondered...
Wonder what this could look like now with a Space X approach - put together what you can in 3 yeas, launch then launch the improved replacement 1-2 years later.
With the low(ish) launch costs of a Falcon 9, one does wonder if anybody would be brave enough to try that with a future project. Heck, they could even give away the previous ones to consortia of universities if they agree to pick up the tab for operations.
"This thing better not explode on the pad"
Or in the air, or anywhere, really.
I really hope all will go well until launch - whenever that ends up being.
We need a fingers crossed icon.
This thing better not explode on the pad
As I recall the only launch failure ArianeSpace have had with a Ariane-5 has been the first one, and was basically due of some very sloppy software engineering work. With a record like that, the odds are pretty good that the James Webb Telescope will end up exactly where they want it.