Updates James Webb Space Telescope updates

[MaverickSawyer]

Sooooo... Situation normal for JWST. Got it.

icard-facepalm:

 

[Notebook]

A photo of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope after a successful deployment test of its primary mirror into the same configuration it will have when in space.

http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/I...ebb_Space_Telescope_s_primary_mirror_unfolded

 

[GLS]

James Webb Space Telescope will “absolutely” not launch in March
"This team has stayed on its toes and pushed this telescope forward."
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/james-webb-space-telescope-will-absolutely-not-launch-in-march/

 

[Keatah]

They better not launch it in March, or any other time. Tens of thousands of jobs will be lost if they do. This is a political shelter thing ya'll know. And if they did launch it it'll be outdated. So why bother? Has any other program been delayed this long ever?

Keep it as the training program it is.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

So 2026 then?

 

[Notebook]

The launch of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is now planned for 31 October 2021.

NASA has announced the decision, based on a recently completed schedule risk assessment of the remaining integration and test activities before launch, accounting for impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and technical challenges. Previously, Webb was targeted to launch in March 2021.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Explora...ebb_Space_Telescope_to_launch_in_October_2021

 

[Keatah]

Sounds like it's on schedule.

 

[mahdavi3d]

 

[Notebook]

James Webb will be the 'launch to watch in 2021' - BBC News

 

[Sbb1413]

I don't think JWST will ever launch this year, because it has gone to several decades of testing, because JWST will orbit around the Earth-Sun L2 point, the orbit of inaccessibility by humans.

Edit: The previous revision said that it was L1 point.

 

[N_Molson]

Better not rush it. Hubble had to be repaired short after launch. Won't be an option with JWST, it has to work. Given the money and time invested in that project I can understand NASA is a bit cautious.

Also Hubble was a revolution in astronomy. It now has to be replaced, and failure is not an option. It would be a severe setback.

 

[Notebook]

James Webb Space Telescope's golden mirror in final test​

James Webb Space Telescope's golden mirror in final test

Engineers are almost done building and testing the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Ariane 5 issue could delay JWST

Ongoing work to address a problem seen on two previous Ariane 5 launches has kept it grounded for months and could delay the launch of JWST.

spacenews.com

JWST Delays

xkcd.com

 

[GLS]

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Has Completed Testing​

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-s-james-webb-space-telescope-has-completed-testing

 

[Thunder Chicken]

NASA is still saying launch in 2021:

The Launch - Webb/NASA

The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called Webb or JWST) is a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the...

www.jwst.nasa.gov

Are they still aiming for 31 October? I had heard that there was an issue with the Ariane V fairing that needed to be resolved.

 

[N_Molson]

No plan change AFAIK.

 

[MaxBuzz]

I was in the firm belief that the telescope was flying on Ariane 6

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I was in the firm belief that the telescope was flying on Ariane 6

Ariane 6 isn't going to fly for at least another year.

Ariane 6 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[N_Molson]

Yes Ariane 6 faced many delays. One of the reasons is probably that Ariane 5 now just works really well...

And JWST is the kind of unique payload that require excellent reliability, would be too risky to fly it on a "young" vehicle anyways. Right now I think Ariane 5 is really well-suited for the task.

 

[MaxBuzz]

the forum does not have a topic dedicated to Extremely Large Telescope