James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared-optimized space telescope set to be launched in 2021 by NASA, with contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It is named after James E. Webb, who served as the second administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968.
The JWST is considered to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will have significantly greater capabilities in terms of observing the universe in the infrared spectrum. It will be positioned at the second Lagrange point (L2), which is located approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the opposite direction of the Sun.
Some of the key scientific goals of the JWST include studying the first galaxies and stars that formed after the Big Bang, exploring the properties of exoplanets and their atmospheres, and studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems. The JWST is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including a near-infrared camera, a near-infrared spectrograph, a mid-infrared instrument, and a fine guidance sensor/near-infrared imager and slitless spectrograph.
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The development of the JWST has been a complex and challenging process, and it has faced several delays and cost overruns. However, it is now scheduled to be launched on December 22, 2021, and is expected to provide unprecedented insights into the universe for many years to come.
