The long-awaited launch of the James Webb Space Telescope orbital infrared Observatory took place. It is considered as a replacement for the Hubble telescope, launched into orbit in 1990.
After numerous technical problems and an "endless" series of transfers, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle launched the new James Webb orbital telescope. The whole world was waiting for this event. It is assumed that the new observatory will become a worthy successor to the famous Hubble and will answer the fundamental questions of the universe.
The launch was carried out from the Guiana Space Center - from the spaceport located in the French department of Guiana in the northeastern part of South America on the Atlantic Ocean coast. They wanted to launch the telescope yesterday, but bad weather got in the way of these plans.
James Webb Space Telescope
Image Source: NASA
The idea of building a new powerful space telescope arose in 1996. The earliest of the expected launch dates was 2007, but back in the 90s it became clear that the deadlines would most likely not be met. Among the reasons for the transfers were technical complexity, high cost, and then the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically this year, the launch of James Webb was postponed several times.
The program was the result of the cooperation of many countries. The dominant role in it is occupied by NASA. The estimated price of James Webb is about ten billion dollars, which is twice the budget for the construction of the Large Hadron Collider and makes the telescope one of the most expensive space programs in the history of the Earth.
Since the launch of Hubble in 1990, technology has moved far ahead, so it is not surprising that great hopes are pinned on the new telescope. The diameter of the James Webb main mirror is 6.6 meters versus 2.4 meters for Hubble, but this is only part of the differences between the telescopes.
Hubble mirror (left) and James Webb (right) in the same scale
Image Source: ESA
James Webb's main tasks include detecting the light of the first stars and galaxies formed after the so-called Big Bang. Sensitive equipment will allow him to study relatively cold exoplanets, as well as answer a number of questions related to our system. The duration of the James Webb mission is estimated at about ten years: no one will undertake to answer this question more precisely now.
Recall that Hubble was recently returned to full operation after problems with the equipment and switching to safe mode. According to the plans, it should leave orbit after 2030.
It should also be noted that the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope wide-band infrared observatory is scheduled for the second half of the decade. She is seen as the ideological heir to three missions at once - Hubble, WISE and James Webb. Last year, NASA specialists created the main mirror of the new telescope.
