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JWST Primary Mirror Starting To Come Together

posted by martyb on Friday November 20 2015, @10:23AM   Printer-friendly
from the coming-into-focus dept.

hubie writes:

The primary mirror for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will consist of 18 separate mirror segments. The optics for the primary is now finally coming together with the mounting of the first mirror segment . Assembly of the full primary will occur over the next year and the curious can watch it come together minute-by-minute on the JWST Webbcams. Those wanting to see faster progress can break out their Benny Hill music[*] and watch JWST Time-Lapse movies.

[*] The tune is actually Yakety Sax.

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  • (Score: 2) by Covalent on Friday November 20 2015, @01:55PM

    by Covalent (43) on Friday November 20 2015, @01:55PM (#265797) Journal

    JWST will be able to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets:

    http://jwst.nasa.gov/origins.html [nasa.gov]

    If we find an exoplanet with significant oxygen in its atmosphere, we will have a huge piece of evidence for extraterrestrial life. Couple this telescope with this one:

    http://tess.gsfc.nasa.gov/ [nasa.gov]

    which is also launching soon, and we'll have a real chance of finding life in the next 5 years or so.

    It is truly an exciting time to be alive!

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by FatPhil on Friday November 20 2015, @02:55PM

    by FatPhil (863) <{pc-soylent} {at} {asdf.fi}> on Friday November 20 2015, @02:55PM (#265830) Homepage
    I agree, this excellent tech, a great multipartite collaboration.

    However, am I the only one who thinks it looks suspiciously like an Imperator-class Star Destroyer?
    --
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    • (Score: 2) by Hartree on Friday November 20 2015, @04:56PM

      by Hartree (195) on Friday November 20 2015, @04:56PM (#265868)

      Well, it sorta does, but with a Death Star-like multi-beam laser cannon mounted on it instead of the usual bridge.

      They cancelled the TPF (Terrestrial Planet Finder) so maybe instead we'll have the TPD (Terrestrial Planet Destroyer).

      Hey, it's a great way to get DOD to pay part of it.

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 20 2015, @03:11PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 20 2015, @03:11PM (#265836)

    and we'll have a real chance of finding life in the next 5 years or so.

    Ha! You really think JWST will have launched by then [space.com]??

    We'll see . . .

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Covalent on Friday November 20 2015, @07:17PM

      by Covalent (43) on Friday November 20 2015, @07:17PM (#265919) Journal

      Doesn't seem that unlikely. It is scheduled for launch in 2018...given the usual delays it's probably in space by 2020 and getting data by 2021. I can wait 6 years, anyway.

      --
      You can't rationally argue somebody out of a position they didn't rationally get into.