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James Webb Space Telescope reaches launch pad for Christmas liftoff
The James Webb Space Telescope is due to launch on Saturday (Dec. 25) during a 32-minute window that opens at 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT). The massive observatory will blast off from Kourou, French Guiana, atop an Ariane 5 rocket operated by European launch provider Arianespace. You can watch launch coverage live at Space.com beginning at 6 a.m. EST (1100 GMT) courtesy of NASA or you can watch directly at the agency's website.
ESA launch kit (PDF).
Previously:
Space science: The telescope that ate astronomy
JWST Primary Mirror Starting To Come Together
New Space Telescope's Giant Gold Mirror Unveiled (April 29th)
Telescope That 'Ate Astronomy' Is on Track to Surpass Hubble
James Webb Space Telescope Vibration Testing Completed
Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Delayed to Spring 2019
Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Could be Further Delayed
JWST: Too Big to Fail?
GAO: James Webb Space Telescope Launch Date Likely Will be Delayed (Again)
Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Delayed to May 2020, Could Exceed Budget Cap
NASA Announces JWST Independent Review Board Members
Screws and Washers Have Fallen Off JWST Amid Testing and Independent Review
Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Delayed Again, This Time to March 2021, Cost at $9.66 Billion
NASA Administrator at House Hearing: WFIRST Could be Delayed to Help Pay for JWST
James Webb Passes Critical Mission Review for 2021 Launch, Final Testing Nearing Completion
NASA Ominously Chooses Halloween 2021 to Launch Long-Delayed Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Next Great Observatory, Passes Final Ground Tests
The James Webb Telescope has a Launch Date
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Passes Crucial Launch-Simulation Tests
James Webb Telescope: Preparations Resume for December 22 Launch
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Fully Fueled for Launch
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love, n.:
Love ties in a knot in the end of the rope.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Snotnose on Friday December 24 2021, @09:25PM (5 children)
If memory serves 138 is the right number, and that doesn't include the launch. If any one of them fails, the whole project fails.
That means there are 138 managers who's reputation are on the line in the next 30 days, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to be one of them.
I've done software for 40 years, and I can think of only 2 managers I've had I would trust with one of these, both were with Qualcomm in the 90s.
Shoutout to Rich and Cliff.
Bad decisions, great stories
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday December 24 2021, @10:42PM
Don't tell me that Snotnose. I'm nervous enough about this launch as it is!
Consumerism is poison.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 25 2021, @01:24AM (1 child)
It's 300 and something. Most of them are related to the deployment, but a few are part of the actual science stuff.
It might work, but if they each have a 0.2% chance of failure, the overall system is still just a coin flip. To get actual good odds you need four or five nines on them all. Assuming the rocket doesn't blow up.
(Score: 5, Informative) by takyon on Saturday December 25 2021, @07:41AM
Sauce:
James Webb Has 344 Single-Point Failures. Here Are the 5 Most Critical Elements [interestingengineering.com]
If it does fail, space telescope development needs a reality check.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 25 2021, @02:41PM
> 138 managers who's reputation are on the line
Managers? I don't think you know how this works. It's the lousy staff, can't get anyone decent these days. They better shape up else Christmas is cancelled FOREVER you mutts.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 26 2021, @02:51AM
One manager can be (and often is) responsible for multiple points of failure.