OT: Staying positive: Finest-ever telescope mission launched

[UConn82]

Hi,

The 10 billion dollar "Webb" telescope is headed for its home at a Lagrange point--a place were the gravity of the different bodies (Sun, Earth, moon, etc.) cancels, so it can just sit there. Today, the primary mirror was deployed--actually unfolded.

So far, so excellent. Everything has deployed perfectly. The scientists and engineers need months of checking and calibrating before data retrieval starts.

This mission will be really huge for cosmologists and astrophysicists. I won't get into the technical details, but this is state of the art science.

There is a lot of negative in the word, and in particular in the "Geno world," as it were: too many injuries, too much COVID, etc.

This mission is an incredible positive.

I thought I would share.

And, despite the difficulty, I think Musk will land people on Mars in my lifetime--I am in my late 60's. We shall see.

 

[ShmiCO]

The last time I felt this excited for a space mission was the Cassini mission to Saturn and it's moon Titan a couple decades back. Not only for the amazing science but the jaw-dropping images. Barring something unlucky I think we'll see a similar huge improvement in the images of space beyond the solar system with Webb.

Speaking of luck, or rather: leaving nothing to chance. There's a fabulous interview with the lead scientist for Webb discussing the meticulous design, planning, testing and review used to give the observatory the best chance to perform as designed parked a million miles away.

 

[eebmg]

Funny, when I saw the title, I thought there was an underlying joke

To see something positive, you need the best Telescope ever made.

 

[and one]

After all the delays, finally seeing Webb launch and successfully unfold is good news indeed. Webb will provide data for a generation of astronomers and theoretical physicists. Getting Webb up (literally) and running is a feat of good old engineering. Good job!!

 

[Monte]

Are there any better ways to spend 10 billion dollars??

 

[Scud49]

I've been following Webb for years, and with xtra intensity since it was launched on Christmas Day. It has the potential to see further back into the universe, as it monitors the IR spectrum, where as Hubble, as fantastic as it was, pretty much was only able to view visible light.

 

[Scud49]

Are there any better ways to spend 10 billion dollars??

Over the years, the spin off benefits of the space program have been enormous. I'm sure Webb will contribute nicely to that legacy.

NASA spin-off technologies - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SVCBeercats]

The 10 billion dollar "Webb" telescope

Thank you! It is exciting! Is NASA planning to initially download data on July 4th? Hey, why not! Lines up with 6 months reasonable well.

 

[Bigboote]

Webb has been a long time coming. In the mid-90's my neighbor was working on materials for the mirror. We had some long talks over the fence about possible materials. Their goal was to make the petals MUCH thinner than they were eventually made, but they did make the unfolding mirror as originally planned, which is pretty cool.

 

[Skeets]

Are there any better ways to spend 10 billion dollars??

Probably not. 10 billion isn't what it used to be in this day of a trillion here, a trillion there....

 

[UConn82]

The primary mirror was deployed perfectly yesterday. Everything is a go. Now comes the calibrations and testing.

First data in June. This is really huge. Physics runs on data--observation in the older days, and now very, very complex experimentation/data collection.

The astrophysicists and cosmologists must be in heaven. Good for them.

 

[Brewski]

I follow Dr. Becky on youtube. She's one of the many astrophysicists that will benefit greatly in terms of research from the Webb telescope. Here is her update on the project for those interested:

 

[JordyG]

Astronomers are finding an average of 3 exoplanets per day now with the total upwards of 4000 to date. Getting a close look at these planets, especially those in the goldilocks zone, would be an astonishing feat.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Probably not. 10 billion isn't what it used to be in this day of a trillion here, a trillion there....

Is this an update to Senator Everett Dirksen's quote: “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money?" Of course Dirksen's supporters claim the quote is apocryphal.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Astronomers are finding an average of 3 exoplanets per day now with the total upwards of 4000 to date. Getting a close look at these planets, especially those in the goldilocks zone, would be an astonishing feat.

Yes, planets in the Goldilocks Zone would be most interesting to examine for intelligent life. Spending billions to search for microbial life forms is a waste. Spend the billions on searching for intelligent life and objects in space to be mined for rare minerals and elements to support the digital age. Hopefully these objects will be mined with a nice ROI.

 

[Beemer]

Great to know there are more space geeks like me here!

This has been incredible to watch- so many, many delays in construction and then launching. I was wondering if it would ever get into space and if it did, would it work. So far everything has gone to plan.

Major props to all worked and are working on it. Can't wait to see what Webb finds out there!

 

[Dove]

I predict the very first image received will be the Webb telescope looking back at the Webb telescope.

 

[JordyG]

Yes, planets in the Goldilocks Zone would be most interesting to examine for intelligent life. Spending billions to search for microbial life forms is a waste. Spend the billions on searching for intelligent life and objects in space to be mined for rare minerals and elements to support the digital age. Hopefully these objects will be mined with a nice ROI.

The deal is we don't need to search very hard for where to mine for rare metals since almost every asteroid has them. Remember, gold, platinum and all other rare metals are not innate to the planet. They all come from asteroids. That is why Bezos and Musk want to get to space. Mining those asteroids are for private industry, not NASA.

 

[UConner]

I remember the first Hubble pics I said whatever this cost it was worth it I hope Webb can do the same