8 January 2022: the Webb has deployed its primary mirror
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has successfully completed the final stage of its deployment with the deployment of its main mirror. The JWST is now fully deployed!
It is now sailing towards its final orbit, 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
The world's largest and most complex space telescope will now begin moving its 18 primary mirror segments to align the telescope optics. The ground team will operate 126 actuators on the back of the segments to bend each mirror - an alignment that will take months to complete. The team will then calibrate the science instruments before delivering the first images from JWST this summer (to know more).
To follow the James Webb's trip
All the information https://www.jwst.fr
5 January 2022: the Webb has deployed its secondary mirror
Today, Wednesday 5 January, JWST teams successfully deployed the telescope's secondary mirror support structure. When light from the distant universe strikes the 18 gold primary mirror segments that are emblematic of this extraordinary observatory, it will reflect and strike this small 0.74-metre secondary mirror, which will direct the light to the various instruments. The secondary mirror is supported by three lightweight deployable struts, each of which is nearly 7.6 metres long and designed to withstand the rigours of space. Specialised heating systems have been used to warm the joints and motors required for continuous operation (to know more).
We look forward to the deployment of the primary mirror wings.
To follow the James Webb's trip
All the information https://www.jwst.fr
4 January 2022: the Webb has deployed its heat shield
This is it! After some delay and cold sweat for those who found the extra time strange, the sunshield that will protect JWST from the Sun's heat and that reflected from the Earth was today, Tuesday 4 January 2022, fully deployed and powered on. This was a key step in bringing the onboard science instruments to their full potential.
After this step, about 75% of the expected failures have been eliminated!
At around 6 p.m. (French time) on Tuesday, 4 January 2022, the sunshield was fully tensioned and fixed in position, marking the end of the deployment operations.
The shield - the size of a full-size tennis court - was folded to fit into the payload area inside the fairing of an Arianespace 5 ECA rocket, which had been specially modified to house it, and to reduce the risk of poorly controlled depressurisation that could have damaged it. The heat shield began to deploy on 28 December 2021, three days after launch (to know more).
We are still waiting for the deployment of the secondary mirror (which should start today, 5 January), and then the wings of the primary mirror.
To follow the James Webb's journey
All the information https://www.jwst.fr
25 December 2021: the launch of the Webb perfectly successful
The JWST was launched on 25 December at 13:20 (Paris time) aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the European Spaceport in French Guiana. This spectacular launch was a perfect success, with the rocket following its nominal trajectory remarkably well until the final release of the observatory and its entry into its final orbit, and all events going according to plan, down to the last detail. A great success for Arianespace and CNES (to know more).
To follow the James Webb's trip
All the information https://www.jwst.fr
