Fri, Dec 31, 2021
NASA's Webb Telescope Continues Journey
The new James Webb Space Telescope has made its way successfully into space, beginning its unfolding process while completing the first phase of its flight trajectory.
The telescope will build on the successful Hubble Space Telescope's body of work, integrating more sensitive and advanced sensing equipment and cameras on the cutting edge of technology. The Webb represents some of, if not the greatest engineering NASA has ever created, boasting a lightweight but robust, stowable system that fits in the relatively modest nose of its Ariane 5 launch vehicle, about 18 by 56 feet. Once positioned, the sensor array will dwarf Hubble's 7.8-foot mirror, boasting a 21-foot multi-layered array. At full stature, its sunshields will have a footprint about half as large as a Boeing 737,
The compacted, temporarily folded spacecraft is now in the process of unpacking itself, releasing its protective sunshield cover in preparation to unfurl itself to its full size.
Webb will take some time to completely reconfigure itself into operational status, with each piece of its carefully planned, choreographed blooming taking place at specific points in its journey. With the sunshield protection membrane moved out of the way, the next step will be the extension of the midboom to pull the first half of the reflective shield more tautly in preparation for the next step. Future steps will see further tightening of the shields before its fully tightened final position. Once in position, the mirror assembly will begin its own multi-stage unfolding procedures.
More News
Back-Taxi A term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft on the runway opposite to the traffic flow. The aircraft may be instructed to back-taxi to the beginning of the>[...]
“Our WAI members across the nation are grateful for the service and sacrifice of the formidable group of WASP who served so honorably during World War II. This group of brave>[...]
“Many aspiring pilots fall short of their goal due to the cost of flight training, so EAA working with the Ray Foundation helps relieve some of the financial pressure and mak>[...]
Blind Speed The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by moving target indicator (MTI) circuits i>[...]
Aero Linx: International Airline Medical Association (IAMA) The International Airline Medical Association, formerly known as the Airline Medical Directors Association (AMDA) was fo>[...]