When the sun visor expands, it blocks heat from the JWST observatory’s propulsion engine. This is because the JWST infrared instrument must be very cold to minus 370 degrees F in order to function properly. The James Webb telescope carries its own fuel as a boost to maneuver in space.
“We have just started opening the shield and the process is very slow, so it will take about three days,” said Massimo Stiavelli, an astronomer and head of mission for the JWST project. (Read also; The Biggest and Most Expensive Telescope, Ariane 5 Rocket Successfully Launches James Webb )
JWST is currently on its way to an orbit 1 million miles from Earth known as the Lagrange 2 (L2) point that takes 29 days. The gravitational balance at point L2 will help keep the JWST in orbit around the Sun at a relatively constant velocity and position with Earth. After arriving at the L2 point, the JWST will slowly circle the orbit and its position will be corrected every 21 days.
Once the Sun visor is fully open, the controller will send a command to open the main reflective disc measuring 21 feet and plated with gold. After that, the four main instruments of the JWST observatory will be activated, cooled, and placed in well-defined positions. (Read also; Replace the Hubble Task, NASA’s James Webb Telescope Launches December 24 )
“We’re going to spend the next two to three months setting up the reflective mirrors. They move them very, very slowly. We can’t cool the instrument quickly because we want to avoid ice condensation,” said Heidi Hammel, an astronomer at Washington DC University.
The US$10 billion JWST observatory is designed to operate for 5.5 to 10 years, to see more space objects than the Hubble Space Telescope. Scientists hope that JWST will be able to see some of the oldest galaxies in the universe, along with pulsars, exoplanets, and supermassive black holes.
(wib)
– .
