Universe  ID: 12146

Building The Next Hubble

Story by NASA Viz Team Released on February 9, 2016
Download Options
Scientists and engineers finish installing the primary mirrors on NASA's next-generation space observatory.
Once assembled, the James Webb Space Telescope will be the biggest and most powerful space telescope ever built. Its 18 primary mirror segments will work together as one large 21.3-foot diameter mirror to observe very distant objects in the cosmos. In February 2016, scientists and engineers completed installation of all of Webb’s primary mirrors onto the telescope in a large clean room at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The team used a robotic arm reminiscent of a claw machine to meticulously place each of the hexagonal-shaped mirror segments onto the telescope structure. Each mirror is made of ultra-lightweight beryllium and coated with a thin layer of gold. The light detected by the mirrors will provide astronomers with images of the first galaxies ever formed, helping them study the many phases in the history of our universe, including the evolution of our own solar system. Watch the video to see a time-lapse of the mirror installation.
Download Options
This time-lapse video shows the months-long process of installing all 18 primary mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Download Options
The mirrors were packed up in special shipping canisters for shipping from the factory to Greenbelt, Maryland.
Download Options
Scientists inspect the gold coating of one of the telescope's mirrors in a clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Download Options
Engineers used a robotic arm to place the mirrors onto the telescope structure. Each mirror is about 4.2 feet across and weighs 88 pounds.
Download Options
All 18 mirrors are seen fully installed. The black protective panels covering the mirrors will be removed prior to Webb's launch in 2018.
 

Source Material

Webb Primary Mirror Installation Time Lapse
NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Receives First Mirror Installation

Related Story

The Beauty of Webb's Mirrors

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-primary-mirror-fully-assembled

Story Credits

Lead Video Editor:
Michael McClare (HTSI)

Lead Producers:
Michael McClare (HTSI)
Christopher Gunn (USRA)

Lead Videographer:
Michael McClare (HTSI)

Lead Writer:
NASA Viz Team

Writer:
Rob Gutro (NASA/GSFC)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA
Shipping canister image courtesy of Ball Aerospace
Mirror images courtesy of NASA/Chris Gunn

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12146

Keywords:
SVS >> JWST
SVS >> App
SVS >> James Webb Space Telescope
NASA Science >> Universe