Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope • Earth.com

Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope

12-27-2021

Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency features the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most complex telescope ever to be launched into space. 

On Christmas morning, after a decade of delays, Webb was launched at 7:20 a.m. on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, South America.

The James Webb Space Telescope is the product of 40 million hours of work by thousands of scientists from around the globe. The space observatory will now begin six months of commissioning in space. After this time, Webb will deliver its first images. 

“Webb’s launch is a pivotal moment that exemplifies the dedication, innovation, and ambition behind NASA and its partners, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA), but it is only the beginning,” said NASA.

“The 29 days following liftoff will be an exciting but harrowing time. Thousands of parts must work correctly, in sequence, to unfold Webb and put it in its final configuration, all while it flies through the expanse of space alone, to a destination nearly one million miles away.”

The James Webb Space Telescope is designed to view objects that are 10 to 100 times fainter than what Hubble can see. The powerful observatory will be able to look so far into deep space that it will see light from galaxies as they formed 13.7 billion years ago, which is just 100 million years after the universe was born.

The James Webb Space Telescope is designed to view objects that are 10 to 100 times fainter than what Hubble can see. The telescope will be able to look so far into deep space that it will see light from galaxies as they formed 13.7 billion years ago, which is just 100 million years after the universe was born.

Webb will ultimately solve many mysteries about the universe and make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. 

Video Credit: ESA

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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