Key Information
James Webb Space Telescope
| Type | Orbital Space Telescope |
| Launch | 25 December, 2021 |
| Weight | 14,300 lb |
| Mirror | 21 ft |
| Dimensions | 69.54 ft by 46.46 ft |
| Orbit Height | 160,000 to 517,000 miles (orbiting Earth) |
Learning Point
- The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, is an infra-red space telescope designed to supersede the Hubble Space Telescope. It is able to see further back in time, and farther away than any other telescope prior to it. It is a complex arrangements of mirrors that work together to produce a clear image, as well as having a sunshield to help protect it from any heat it might receive from the the Sun, Earth or Moon.
Project
- Identify what a halo orbit is and how it works.
- Overview
- Sunshield
Media
Location
| Located in | Guiana Space Centre, Guiana |
Fun Facts
- The main mirror of JWST is significantly bigger than the Hubble Space Telescope.
- It is positioned in an unusual orbit, called a halo orbit, that requires it to be re-positioned each year to avoid it falling out of its orbit and back to Earth.
- It has already revealed some interesting features about stars, galaxies and nebula that have begun to challenge some existing theories, while helping confirm others.
Past Lessons
| 61 | September 10, 2023 | (North America) |