Buzz
The Hubble Space Telescope has provided us with stunning, often breathtaking views of the universe. Yet, as technology has advanced since its 1990 launch, it’s become a bit outdated. Enter the James Webb Space Telescope, a $8.7 billion marvel, set to surpass Hubble’s achievements. Here are some mind-blowing facts you might not know about the ‘Hubble #2’:
10. Its primary mission is to observe the earliest galaxies ever formed.
While Captain James T. Kirk's mission in Star Trek was to boldly explore the unknown and engage with space aliens, the Webb telescope's mission is far more precise—and infinitely cooler: to peer back over thirteen billion years to witness the birth of the first stars and galaxies lighting up the universe. Thanks to cutting-edge infrared technology, it will capture the ultraviolet glow of the faintest, farthest objects that have since moved beyond the reach of visible light.
These early stars are believed to have been between 30 and 300 times more massive than our Sun, shining with an intensity far beyond what we can imagine.
9. It has the ability to peer through dense dust clouds.
Just like a crowded metropolis, space suffers from serious visibility issues. It’s filled with dense clouds of cosmic dust that block visible light. This is where Webb’s ‘X-Ray Specs’ come into play. The telescope’s infrared capabilities will not only help uncover ancient celestial bodies, but also see right through these obstructive dust clouds.
This is because, while shorter visible light wavelengths are blocked by the dust, infrared light simply passes through. Webb can reveal what these clouds have concealed from us since the very beginning of time. Scientists believe these clouds could be hiding stars, or even entire solar systems.
8. It’s twice as large as Hubble, but only half the weight
It’s well-known that bigger is often better. So, whether it’s for a sequel to a slasher movie or a space telescope, the goal is always to make it larger, longer, and far more adaptable. The James Webb Space Telescope checks all those boxes. At 22 meters long, it’s about twice the size of Hubble, but somehow manages to weigh only half as much, tipping the scales at just 12,020 kilograms.
In fact, Webb’s mirror, which measures 6.5 meters, and its sun shield, the size of a tennis court, are so large that they won’t fit into the rocket that will launch it. To overcome this challenge, the mirror and sun shield fold into smaller sections, neatly fitting inside the spacecraft before unfolding once it reaches the outer reaches of space. Despite its size, Webb’s mirror collects light five to six times more efficiently than Hubble, all while weighing about the same, thanks to innovative engineering.
7. It has the capability to map the atmospheres of planets light years away.
While uncovering the birth of the first stars and galaxies is thrilling, the discovery of habitable, Earth-like planets has captivated the imagination of space enthusiasts for decades. If such planets exist, Webb will be the one to find them.
As Matt Munfield, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, shared with Astrology Magazine, Webb will be capable of capturing color images of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) over extended periods. This will allow scientists to detect signs of ice, vegetation, and, in theory, even differentiate between winter and summer conditions on these distant worlds.
If Earth 2 exists, Webb gives us the best shot at discovering it.
6. If it breaks, there’s no fixing it.
While Hubble has withstood some serious hits and continued working after being patched up by skilled astronauts, Webb will be heading to a distant part of space, roughly 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This means there won’t be any quick fix missions for the telescope. However, scientists have included a grapple point, just in case we get the chance to send a mission or even master warp speed! Considering Hubble’s mirror was damaged shortly after launch, there’s always a risk that the billion-dollar Webb project could yield no return.
5. It could help solve some long-standing space mysteries.
There are numerous cosmic mysteries that Webb may help unravel, one of the key ones being what transpired during the Dark Ages of the universe.
Millions of years after the Big Bang, the gas in the expanding universe cooled down drastically and formed massive hydrogen clouds. With no visible light present, the universe plunged into darkness, thus the term “the Dark Ages.” This period isn’t just about a lack of light, but also about the mystery surrounding what happened during that time. While scientists know that a few million years later, these hydrogen clouds were reignited, heated, and became transparent as the first galaxies began to emerge, they’re still puzzled about what triggered this profound transformation.
Webb is expected to uncover this grand mystery, pinpointing when, why, and how the universe's reheating occurred.
4. It must be kept as cold as possible.
Webb will rely on infrared technology to detect heat-emitting objects in space, rather than those that produce visible light. This is why it needs to operate in space: on Earth, it would be overwhelmed by our planet’s own infrared emissions, rendering it unable to detect much. Stationing it 1.5 million kilometers from Earth helps avoid this issue. However, the telescope itself contains heat-generating components. To counter this, it must be kept colder than ice on a freezing day.
The brilliance of Webb's planned location lies in its dual function. Not only will it ensure the telescope remains in a frigid environment, but it also places the Sun, Moon, and Earth on the same side of the telescope, all safely positioned behind its sun shield.
3. You can watch the telescope being assembled in real-time.
Webb isn't fully constructed yet. Its planned launch date of 2018 gives it some leeway. Two live webcams provide a glimpse into the telescope’s ongoing construction process, with one focusing on the left side and the other conveniently showing the right side. You can watch both in real time.
To be clear, rather than full-motion video, we’re talking about static images updated once every minute. However, if skimping on the fancy cameras helps ensure Webb’s successful launch, it’s certainly a worthwhile trade-off.
2. It’s the final major astrophysics mission of its generation
Times are tough. Jobs are limited, budgets are strained, and NASA has been forced to search for spare billions from the corners of its space sofa.
In fact, the project almost met its end when the US House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, Justice and Science proposed cutting $1.9 billion from NASA’s 2012 budget, threatening the telescope’s creation. However, in November 2011, the US Congress stepped in to prevent the cancellation and instead set a cap on additional funding, limiting the total cost of the project to $8 billion.
Considering that nearly every other observatory project has been canceled or indefinitely postponed over the last five years (including the Terrestrial Planet Finder, Space Interferometry Mission, Laser Space Antenna, and the International X-ray Observatory), Webb is remarkably fortunate to still have a budget. It stands as the final mission of its generation; the last planned NASA astrophysics mission. With the Space Shuttle retired in 2011, Webb is one of NASA's last remaining significant space endeavors and, due to the current state of the US economy and resistance to NASA funding, could be the last of its kind for many years.
1. It will constantly be in a struggle with the sun
In space, gravity isn’t much of a problem, so you might assume Webb would easily stay on target. That is, unless the sun gets in the way. While we don’t feel the pressure from light on Earth, in space, sunlight will hit Webb with the force of wind filling a sail.
This constant pressure could not only mess with Webb’s focus, but also cause significant harm. The sun’s rays might shift its sun shield, leaving the sensitive instruments exposed, or even dislodge the solar panels, rendering Webb powerless.
Luckily, NASA engineers have thought this through and designed a solution. The key is the power of the reaction wheel. When this motorized wheel spins in one direction, it forces the telescope to rotate in the opposite direction. A series of these wheels, all controlled by operators, will keep the telescope aligned and on track.
