Like a latch made in heaven, NASAWebb’s secondary mirror is now fully deployed and locked! The team remains focused as they work toward the final major milestone this week – deployment of the iconic honeycomb-shaped mirror. Details: UnfoldTheUniverse
Today, Webb teams successfully deployed the observatory’s secondary mirror support structure. When light from the distant universe hits Webb’s iconic 18 gold primary mirrors, it will reflect off and hit the smaller, 2.4-foot secondary mirror, which will direct the light into its instruments. The secondary mirror is supported by three lightweight deployable struts that are each almost 25 feet long and are designed to withstand the space environment.
“Another banner day for JWST,” said Bill Ochs, Webb project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, as he congratulated the secondary mirror deployment team at the Mission Operations Center in Baltimore. “This is unbelievable…We’re about 600,000 miles from Earth, and we actually have a telescope.”
The deployment process began at approximately 9:52 a.m. EST, and the secondary mirror finished moving into its extended position at about 11:28 a.m. EST. The secondary mirror support structure was then latched at about 11:51 a.m. EST. At approximately 12:23 p.m. EST, engineers confirmed that the structure was fully secured and locked into place and the deployment was complete.
“The world’s most sophisticated tripod has deployed,” said Lee Feinberg, optical telescope element manager for Webb at Goddard. “That’s really the way one can think of it. Webb’s secondary mirror had to deploy in microgravity, and in extremely cold temperatures, and it ultimately had to work the first time without error.
Next Webb will deploy an important radiator system known as the aft deployable infrared radiator , which helps shed heat away from its instruments and mirrors. Learn more about Webb’s deployment timeline
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
James Webb Space Telescope nails secondary mirror deploymentThe James Webb Space Telescope achieved another major milestone today, successfully extending its secondary mirror as it continues to sail seamlessly through its never-before-conducted deployment sequence on the way to its destination.
Read more »
JWST Deploys its Secondary Mirror. It's a Real Telescope Now - Universe TodayLadies and gentlemen, we have a telescope. The secondary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope was successfully deployed in space today, an incredibly important milestone. “We are 600,000 miles from Earth and we have a telescope,” said Bill Ochs, JWST program manager, speaking triumphantly to his team after the secondary mirror was deployed and … Continue reading 'JWST Deploys its Secondary Mirror. It’s a Real Telescope Now'
Read more »
James Webb Space Telescope nails secondary mirror deploymentThe James Webb Space Telescope achieved another major milestone today, successfully extending its secondary mirror as it continues to sail seamlessly through its never-before-conducted deployment sequence on the way to its destination.
Read more »
James Webb Space Telescope completes tricky sunshield deploymentThe James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed all five layers of its tennis-court-sized sunshield.
Read more »