Jan 24, 2022

The Web Space Telescope has reached its parking spot!!!

 

Image of the most recently started Deployment State of Webb - described in following text

(From NASA) The vast majority of the energy required to place Webb in L2 orbit was provided by the Ariane 5 rocket. After release of the observatory from the rocket, several small tweaks to the trajectory were executed (mid-course correction burns - MCC), to ease the observatory into its operating orbit. MCC2 is the final burn to fine tune Webb's halo orbit.

The adjacent diagram shows a conceptual view of Webb's trajectory and halo orbit. Webb launched on the sun-facing side of the earth and travelled a slightly curved trajectory for the ~1,000,000mi (~1,609,344km) to enter its L2 halo orbit. A halo orbit is one which rather than follow a single path, is an orbit that periodically varies through a series of paths. The 'Earth/L2 frame' orbits the Sun while Webb orbits L2 as shown in this animation of Webb's orbit. Also note Webb's orientation; the sunshield is perpendicular to the Sun so Webb's mirrors and instruments are in cold complete darkness.

Be patient....we won't see any photos from the telescope for a while:

After reaching its orbit, Webb undergoes science and calibration testing. Then, regular science operations and images will begin to arrive, approximately six months after launch. However, it is normal to also take a series of "first light" images that may arrive slightly earlier. 

 

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