The world’s largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away Saturday on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky.The $10 billion observatory hurtled toward its destination 1 million miles away, or more than four times beyond the moon. It will take a month to get there and another five months before its infrared eyes are ready to start scanning the cosmos.
“We are going to discover incredible things that we never imagined," Nelson said following liftoff, speaking from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. But he cautioned: “There are still innumerable things that have to work and they have to work perfectly ... we know that in great reward there is great risk."
“We have delivered a Christmas gift today for humanity,” said European Space Agency director general Josef Aschbacher. He described it as a special moment, but added: “It's very nerve-racking. I couldn't do launches every single day. This would not be good for my life expectancy.” If all goes well, the sunshield will be opened three days after liftoff, taking at least five days to unfold and lock into place. Next, the mirror segments should open up like the leaves of a drop-leaf table, 12 days or so into the flight.
The Hubble Space Telescope will be a tough act to follow, according to Stiavelli and retired astronaut-astronomer Steven Hawley, even though Webb is 100 times more powerful.
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.
Space telescope launched on daring quest to behold 1st stars | AP NewsThe world’s largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away Saturday on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky.
Read more »
Meet the people bringing us answers on the big bang, and their 13,000-pound helperThe James Webb Space Telescope launches to space Christmas Day, the culmination of two decades of work: 'It feels like we sprinted a marathon.'
Read more »
Webb Telescope Launch Could Shift Our Understanding of the Early UniverseThe James Webb Space Telescope—the Hubble’s successor—would be the biggest and most powerful observatory ever launched into space. Here’s how it will transform our understanding of the cosmos.
Read more »
NASA's revolutionary new space telescope due for launch from French GuianaNASA's James Webb Space Telescope, a revolutionary $9 billion instrument able to peer more deeply into the cosmos than ever, was due for launch early Saturday from South America's northeastern coast, opening a highly anticipated new era of astronomical exploration.
Read more »
NASA launches James Webb telescope into space on Christmas DayNASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful telescope built to date, successfully blasts into orbit on Christmas Day.
Read more »