James Webb Space Telescope successfully passed final thermal vacuum test
04, Jun 2019
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CONTEXT:
- NASA’s $8.8-billion James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most expensive one, has successfully passed final thermal vacuum test, making its parts cleared for use in space.
- The 6.5-meter diameter telescope has 18 gold-coated mirrors and a tennis court-sized sun-shield to gather light and protect its instruments.
- The telescope set to launch in 2021. It took 20 years to build.
BACKGROUND:
- It is planned to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
- It will provide greatly improved resolution and sensitivity over the Hubble and will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology.