JWST Countdown.

[psolk 3,040]

4 minutes ago, martin-w said:

 

Do you think she'd fancy a 63 year old recovering from a certain virus, that likes cats?

Come on guys, she was clearly looking at me in that camera...  It was as clear as P3D with the Clear Skies preset 🙂

I mean she looked right at me... LOL  

@Martin, do hope you are on the mend. Over here if someone isn't sick with Covid they seem to be sick with a horrible cold or flu.  I know more ill people right now than healthy...  Myself, I merely woke up mid procedure while being intubated on Tuesday and still mentally and physically recovering.  Let's just say those little nasal swabs don't seem so extreme anymore!  

 

[W2DR 1,860]

Now all we have to do is wait patiently for all that mechanical stuff to work properly. Unfolding those 18 mirrors and getting everything aligned and working is, to my mind, a much more difficult task than just launching another rocket. Only 29 more days to go.

[martin-w 3,235]

5 minutes ago, psolk said:

I merely woke up mid procedure while being intubated on Tuesday and still mentally and physically recovering. 

 

 

Oh my god. How awful. I'll say no more as its banned

[martin-w 3,235]

6 minutes ago, W2DR said:

Now all we have to do is wait patiently for all that mechanical stuff to work properly. Unfolding those 18 mirrors and getting everything aligned and working is, to my mind, a much more difficult task than just launching another rocket. Only 29 more days to go.

 

I know that's the really tricky bit, so complex, so much can go wrong. 

[charliearon 3,024]

There was a great parting shot after release from the final stage as it moved away and extended the solar array.

[psolk 3,040]

Now the hard work begins but I can't imagine the elation on the part of everyone involved.  I am sure a lot of people will sleep well tonight! 

[Fielder 3,679]

[martin-w 3,235]

Live tracking of JWST here...

 

 

 

 

[dmwalker 606]

3 hours ago, martin-w said:

Live tracking of JWST here...

I see its cruising speed has already dropped from about 1.6 miles per second to 0.78 miles per second. Are they just taking advantage of Earth's gravitational pull to reduce the speed to something easily manageable by the time it arrives at L-2?

[martin-w 3,235]

1 hour ago, dmwalker said:

I see its cruising speed has already dropped from about 1.6 miles per second to 0.78 miles per second. Are they just taking advantage of Earth's gravitational pull to reduce the speed to something easily manageable by the time it arrives at L-2?

 

🤔 I suppose so.  its initial velocity may be designed so that by the time it gets to L2 its low.

I guess it must have thrusters onboard to point in the right direction for observations. So some manoeuvring capability but not sure its enough for breaking. 

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Edit: Ive just read that when it gets to L2 it goes into a "halo Orbit" for 6 months. Not sure what it does after that. 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2021 by martin-w

[Garys 209]

First Image has Just come in  😄

 

[charliearon 3,024]

Looks like someone forgot to remove the lens cap! 📷

[martin-w 3,235]

22 minutes ago, charliearon said:

Looks like someone forgot to remove the lens cap! 📷

 

Don't be silly. JWST just got a snap of Santa as he flew through space in his sleigh. You cant see much because its very zoomed in. JWST is a very powerful telescope. 

[goates 576]

This site is also a good place to monitor the status of the telescope.

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

[dmwalker 606]

When it's in position and ready to explore, I hope they'll use the Hubble Telescope to take a photo of it in all its majesty.