NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and Arianespace confirmed a targeted launch date of Saturday, Dec. 25, for the James Webb Space Telescope. A 32-minute launch window opens at 7:20 a.m. EST in Kourou, French Guiana (9:20 a.m. GFT/12:20 UTC). An Ariane 5 rocket will lift off from Europe's Spaceport carrying NASA's next-generation space observatory. Related …
Update: 4:30 p.m. EST, Dec. 21, 2021: NASA and Arianespace successfully completed the Launch Readiness Review for the James Webb Space Telescope on Dec. 21. The team authorized the Ariane 5 rocket carrying Webb to rollout and the start of launch sequencing for the mission. However, due to adverse weather conditions at Europe's Spaceport in …
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has cleared its launch readiness review, and has been given the formal green light to proceed with final preparations for liftoff planned for Dec. 24. Additionally, Webb teams recently completed a comprehensive day of launch rehearsal that involved a joint effort between launch site crews in French Guiana, and Webb's …
The James Webb Space Telescope is confirmed for the target launch date of Dec. 24, at 7:20 a.m. EST. Late yesterday, teams at the launch site successfully completed encapsulation of the observatory inside the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch it to space. Webb's final launch readiness review will be held on Tuesday Dec. 21 …
The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system. This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17.
On Saturday, Dec. 11, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch it to space from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. After its arrival in the final assembly building, Webb was slowly hoisted nearly 130 feet and then perfectly aligned on top of the Ariane 5, …
Two weeks until launch! Things are moving forward in Kourou, and so we check in with the two leads (one from the U.S., one from the U.K.) of the final instrument in Webb's suite: "Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is special – in the wavelengths it covers, the science that enables, its technology challenges, and in …
On Dec. 7, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was transferred to the final assembly building at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana to meet its Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Stowed inside a special transport container and mobile clean room, Webb's vitals were meticulously monitored throughout the entire process of moving between buildings. The Ariane 5 rocket Webb will ride to space was moved to the …
Editor's Note, Dec. 8, 2021: This post has been updated with more accurate fueling figures. In preparation for launch later this month, ground teams have successfully completed the delicate operation of loading the James Webb Space Telescope with the propellant it will use to steer itself while in space. In order to make critical course …
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, NASA Headquarters held its final review for the mission prior to launch. A week later, on Nov. 24, a review committee approved Webb's transition to the next stage in its preparations for launch. This week we've asked NASA's Randy Kimble, Webb's integration, test, and commissioning project scientist, to tell us how …
