James Webb Telescope

Just read this on CNET . . . "The lift off was penciled in for Dec. 22 but NASA has announced the spacecraft will not fly before Dec. 24. A new date is expected on Dec. 17".

Confirmed on NASA site - "The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system. This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17."
 
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Given the costs and the utter inability to a damn thing if anything goes wrong after launch, I think extreme caution is probably a reasonable thing.
 
Of course, they are entirely correct to not rush the launch as long as there is any possibility of an issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system that could be ironed out before it launches. There's decades of work and billions of dollars on the line here, so I want them to be as thorough as possible in making sure everything is ready and no possible point of failure has been left unaddressed.
 
This telescope will provide valuable insight into the origins of the universe I would like to know before I pass away. I am so rooting for a successful everything with this operation. This makes looking to tomorrow fun. (Not like that climate change :( )
 
a_unique_person said:
Then after it is in place, it will take a heart stopping six minutes to deploy the intricate array of mirrors.

No, wait.

Six months to deploy the mirrors.
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A month to get there, three weeks to deploy the mirrors, then several more months of cooling and calibration before it is ready to start doing science.
 
ynot said:
Just read this on CNET . . . "The lift off was penciled in for Dec. 22 but NASA has announced the spacecraft will not fly before Dec. 24. A new date is expected on Dec. 17".

Confirmed on NASA site - "The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system. This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17."
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Well, it's Friday, Dec. 17, (17:20 PST) but I don't see any new information yet. I suppose technically they haven't passed their stated deadline as long as it's still the 17th somewhere in the world (it's already the 18th here where I live).
 
Puppycow said:
Well, it's Friday, Dec. 17, (17:20 PST) but I don't see any new information yet. I suppose technically they haven't passed their stated deadline as long as it's still the 17th somewhere in the world (it's already the 18th here where I live).
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Yep, getting a bit late in the day their time to "provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17".

Hope they didn't mean Friday, Dec. 3017. :D
tusenfem said:
they probably mean December 2024 :D
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There was an update via twitter from arianespace a few hours ago. Still scheduled for Friday. Based on the jargon used I understood they are sealing the vehicle fairing now.
 
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The latest tweets from Arianespace:
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@NASAWebb
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@ESA_Webb
's launch final readiness review will be held on Tuesday December 21 and, if successful, roll-out is planned for Wednesday, December 22.
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The James Webb Space Telescope is confirmed for the target launch date of December 24, at 09:20 am Kourou time (12:20 UTC / 13:20 CET).
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Hope the JWST launches EST Friday, Dec. 24 without further delays or any mishaps. Will be Xmas day for me in NZ and would be best present ever. :thumbsup:
 
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NASA Sets Coverage, Invites Public to View Webb Telescope Launch (NASA)

NASA will provide coverage of prelaunch, launch, and postlaunch activities for the James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope.

Webb is targeted to launch at 7:20 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 24, on an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America.

Live launch coverage in English will begin at 6 a.m. on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. The public can also watch live on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and Daily Motion. NASA also will offer a launch broadcast in Spanish beginning at 6:30 a.m. on the agency’s website and Spanish-language social media accounts. NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and a postlaunch news conference approximately 30 minutes after the live launch broadcast ends on Friday, Dec. 24.
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Merry Xmas! :D
 
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