New Webb Telescope Is Better Than We Thought Says NASA As It Focuses Perfectly On A Star For The First Time
While the purpose of this image was to focus on the bright star at the center for alignment … [+]
NASA/STScI
The most powerful space observatory ever launched will be able to meet or exceed the science goals its was built to achieve.
That’s the official line from NASA, whose engineers have just completed the latest stage of focusing and sharpening the optics on the James Webb Space Telescope.
The latest waymarker in geting Webb up and running ready for its “first light” later this year was completed on March 11, says NASA, when “fine phasing” alignment was completed.
Its engineers report that “every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations.”
In short, Webb can see stars and other deep sky objects perfectly.
“We have fully aligned and focused the telescope on a star, and the performance is beating specifications. We are excited about what this means for science,” said Ritva Keski-Kuha, deputy optical telescope element manager for Webb at NASA Goddard. “We now know we have built the right telescope.”
This latest and critical step in Web’s alignment saw its optics and Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) collect light from a star called 2MASS J17554042+6551277 (main image, above). The “fine phasing” process saw each of the primary mirror segments adjusted to produce a unified image of the star. The enigneers used a red filter to give the image lots of contrast.
This new “selfie” was created using a specialized pupil imaging lens inside of the NIRCam instrument … [+]
NASA/STScI
This success validates an all-new way to build and launch a sophisticated space telescope—and it’s one that looks set to be repeated in future. The first telescope in space to use segmented primary mirrors, Webb’s main mirror—which measures 21-feet, 4-inches/6.5-meters—has eight hexagonal segments made from beryllium.
“In addition to enabling the incredible science that Webb will achieve, the teams that designed, built, tested, launched and now operate this observatory have pioneered a new way to build space telescopes,” said Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Next comes more aligning of optics and the final corrections to achieve a well-aligned telescope across all of Webb’s science instruments. Then comes final alignment, which is now expected to be completed by early May 2022.
We may see the first “showpiece” images from Webb about five months after launch, once commissioning ends, so around about May 24, 2022. Though NASA is now saying that Webb’s first full-resolution imagery and science data will be released “in the summer.”
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
