James Webb Telescope Fully Deployed in Space

Engineering teams at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland cheered back as NASA announced on Twitter that the final wing had been deployed.

“I’m passionate about it — what an amazing milestone,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, a senior NASA engineer, during the live video feed as the stargazer celebrated around the world.

As the telescope was too large to fit into the nose cone of the rocket in its operational configuration, it was moved fold-up.

According to NASA, unfurling has been a complex and daunting task—the most difficult project of its kind to date.

“We still have work to do,” NASA said as the wing was put in place. “When the final latch is secured, NASA Webb will open completely into space.”

The most powerful space telescope ever built and Hubble’s successor, Webb exploded aboard an Ariane 5 rocket off French Guiana on December 25, and is heading toward its orbital point, one million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth.

Although Webb will reach its space destination, known as the second Lagrange point, in just a few weeks, it still has about five and a half months left for its setup.

Next steps include aligning the telescope’s optics and calibrating its scientific instruments.

far reaches of the universe

Its infrared technology will allow it to see the first stars and galaxies that formed 13.5 billion years ago, giving astronomers new insights into the early ages of the universe.

Earlier this week, the telescope deployed its five-layer sunshield – a 70-foot (21 m) tall, kite-shaped instrument that acts like a parasol, ensuring that Webb’s instruments are shielded from shadows. so that they can detect faint infrared signals in the far reaches of the universe.

The sunshield will be installed permanently between the telescope and the Sun, Earth and the Moon, with the side facing the Sun designed to withstand 230 °F (110 °C).

The visible and ultraviolet light first emitted by luminous objects has been magnified by the expansion of the universe, and today comes in the form of infrared, which Webb is equipped to detect with unprecedented clarity.

Its mission also includes the study of distant planets to determine their origin, evolution and habitability.

The NASA Telescope Blog said Saturday’s procedure was “the last of the major deployments on the observatory.”

“Its completion will set the stage for the remaining five-and-a-half months of commissioning, which will include settling to a stable operating temperature, aligning the mirrors, and calibrating the science instruments.”