Post by glactus on Jan 12, 2011 19:32:26 GMT
Highlighted by the completion of its most important milestone to date, Mission Critical Design Review, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made significant progress throughout 2010.
James Webb Space telescope
In April, the telescope passed its Mission Critical Design Review, which signified that the integrated observatory will meet all science and engineering requirements for the mission. This review encompassed all previous design reviews and marked seven years of intense, focused effort on the part of NASA, Northrop Grumman and the Webb telescope team members.
Mirror segment
Webb's primary mirror segments also made significant progress this year. An engineering development unit and the first flight segment were polished to their exact prescriptions and verified at operational cryogenic temperatures.
James Webb telemetry
After completing this milestone, these mirror segments, as well as the tertiary and fine steering mirrors, progressed to the last step in the mirror manufacturing process - undergoing an ultra-thin coating of gold to increase reflective properties.
The coated engineering
development mirror segment recently passed its final cryogenic test, making it the first completely finished mirror segment to do so. It is being closely followed by the flight segments in the coating and verification process. (5)
Data from tests performed on a two-story facsimile of the telescope's core section was successfully correlated to within 10 to 15 percent of cryogenic heat flow.
The James Webb Space Telescope is schedules to be launched in 2014, and will be stationed 1,500,000 km from Earth. When calibrations are completed and the instrument is operational, The James Webb will revolutionize Astronomy, sending us back images from the bowels of the universe, perhaps solve a multitude of the mysteries of the cosmos and advance our knowledge of space and time.
James Webb
Credits: These are NASA images From the Goddard Space flight Center.
This is part text only. See full text and all scientists involved at Space Daily.com
www.spacedaily.com/reports/JWST_Makes_Significant_Progress_In_2010_999.html
James Webb Space telescope
In April, the telescope passed its Mission Critical Design Review, which signified that the integrated observatory will meet all science and engineering requirements for the mission. This review encompassed all previous design reviews and marked seven years of intense, focused effort on the part of NASA, Northrop Grumman and the Webb telescope team members.
Mirror segment
Webb's primary mirror segments also made significant progress this year. An engineering development unit and the first flight segment were polished to their exact prescriptions and verified at operational cryogenic temperatures.
James Webb telemetry
After completing this milestone, these mirror segments, as well as the tertiary and fine steering mirrors, progressed to the last step in the mirror manufacturing process - undergoing an ultra-thin coating of gold to increase reflective properties.
The coated engineering
development mirror segment recently passed its final cryogenic test, making it the first completely finished mirror segment to do so. It is being closely followed by the flight segments in the coating and verification process. (5)
Data from tests performed on a two-story facsimile of the telescope's core section was successfully correlated to within 10 to 15 percent of cryogenic heat flow.
The James Webb Space Telescope is schedules to be launched in 2014, and will be stationed 1,500,000 km from Earth. When calibrations are completed and the instrument is operational, The James Webb will revolutionize Astronomy, sending us back images from the bowels of the universe, perhaps solve a multitude of the mysteries of the cosmos and advance our knowledge of space and time.
James Webb
Credits: These are NASA images From the Goddard Space flight Center.
This is part text only. See full text and all scientists involved at Space Daily.com
www.spacedaily.com/reports/JWST_Makes_Significant_Progress_In_2010_999.html