It was going to go up yesterday but the weather didn't cooperate, so we get a Christmas launch. If all goes well--no explosions and the 300+ parts all open properly--the JWST will give us a view into the universe that we've never had before. Here's a link to NASA's site, and here's a link to the countdown clock.
It's gonna take a little while to reach its orbit at L2, one of IIRC five relatively static points where the equilibrium between the sun's gravity and earth's gravity causes it to essentially remain in one spot, with only minor occasional course corrections required to keep it there. The telescope will be constantly shielded from the sun by virtue of its position on the other side of the earth and moon relative to the sun, as well as its special shields. So many other nerd-like things to share, but this is awesome. Now it just has to work.
If we can get to a Gator Bowl at 5-7, the JWST should be in good shape. It's science.
EDIT UPDATE: Here's the NASA LINK regarding Webb's updated distance from earth and to L2.
It's gonna take a little while to reach its orbit at L2, one of IIRC five relatively static points where the equilibrium between the sun's gravity and earth's gravity causes it to essentially remain in one spot, with only minor occasional course corrections required to keep it there. The telescope will be constantly shielded from the sun by virtue of its position on the other side of the earth and moon relative to the sun, as well as its special shields. So many other nerd-like things to share, but this is awesome. Now it just has to work.
If we can get to a Gator Bowl at 5-7, the JWST should be in good shape. It's science.
EDIT UPDATE: Here's the NASA LINK regarding Webb's updated distance from earth and to L2.
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