The Replacement for Hubble

[Channel Hopper]

The James Webb Space Telescope

A few years behind schedule (and most likely over budget) this is not a direct replacement as it has more Infra Red detection equipment than optical, but will have the extra facility of compensation electronics and active shielding of certain parts of the mirror(s) - to search out the earliest origins of the universe.

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/status.html

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Making those mirrors is an amazing feat in itself. There's some seriously clever people out there......

 

[Channel Hopper]

Some videos of the optics, actuators and assembly, all very Dr No.

<em>http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/behind_the_webb/7</em>

 

[Analoguesat]

Some seriously complicated equipment deployment required after its initial launch!

Massive Ariane 5 To Launch Giant NextGen Telescope In Dynamic Deployment To L2 - Universe Today

 

[Captain Jack]

Let's hope it's not out of focus like it was on the Hubble...

 

[william-1]

Some seriously complicated equipment deployment required after its initial launch!

Massive Ariane 5 To Launch Giant NextGen Telescope In Dynamic Deployment To L2 - Universe Today

Sounds a bit ominous as a simple L band antenna has never been operational on Eutelsat 10A @ 10 east due to a technical hitch let us hope that the JWA works 1st time,
https://www.quora.com/Eutelsat-10A-...nd-payload-What-was-the-nature-of-its-failure

 

[Channel Hopper]

Rats !

Hubble 'successor' faces new delay

 

[Channel Hopper]

Launch in a year's time.

NASA Announces New James Webb Space Telescope Target Launch Date - NASA

NASA now is targeting Oct. 31, 2021, for the launch of the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope from French Guiana, due to impacts from the ongoing coronavirus

www.nasa.gov

 

[Channel Hopper]

The tennis court sized shield is folded and ready to go

NASA’s Webb Telescope Packs Its Sunshield for a Million Mile Trip - NASA

Engineers working on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have successfully folded and packed its sunshield for its upcoming million-mile (roughly 1.5 million

www.nasa.gov

 

[Analoguesat]

If it doesnt unfurl properly they can always send a MEV up with a giant toupee ;)