![]() We have some of the most beautiful B-roll footage you've ever seen! Shown here, the James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror illuminated in a dark cleanroom. Webb will act as an infrared sleuth, detecting light that is invisible to us and revealing otherwise hidden regions of space, including distant corners of our universe.Īnd in order for the observatory to achieve those goals, the mirror’s 18 hexagonal gold-coated segments had to unfold and lock together in perfect sequence. In addition to investigating the wealth of planets outside of our solar system, the observatory will peer back to some of the earliest galaxies that formed after the Big Bang and explore the very structure of the universe. The more light the mirror can collect, the more details the telescope can observe. The mirror can extend 21 feet and 4 inches (6.5 meters) – a massive length that will allow it to collect more light from objects in space. Engineers designed the telescope as a series of moving parts that can fold origami-style and fit inside a 16-foot (5-meter) space for launch. The mirror was so large that it couldn’t fit inside a rocket. It’s the largest mirror NASA has ever built, but its size created a unique problem. “Webb’s successful deployment exemplifies the best of what NASA has to offer: the willingness to attempt bold and challenging things in the name of discoveries still unknown.” “I am so proud of the team – spanning continents and decades – that delivered this first-of-its kind achievement,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in a statement. The James Webb Space Telescope successfully completed the unfolding of its giant gold mirror on Saturday. ![]() ![]() Just 14 days after launching, the world’s most complex space observatory has already overcome some of its greatest challenges.
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