The James Webb Space Telescope’s perspective allows scientists to uncover answers to questions that have yet to be asked.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched into orbit in December 2021 and is one of the groundbreaking scientific projects, revealing aspects of astronomy never before known to humanity.
Simulation of the hexagonal mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope (Image: NASA).
According to Scitech Daily, the secret behind the uniqueness of JWST, which no other telescope possesses, lies in its mirror made up of 18 individual hexagonal segments.
These segments can be aligned with such precision that they function as a single unit.
Dr. Marcio B. Meléndez, an astrophysical optics scientist who contributed to the JWST development project, noted that they underwent a complex alignment process to position the mirrors correctly.
This process lasted nearly three months after the JWST was placed into operational orbit, and continuous adjustments will be needed to align with scientific objectives. Therefore, the success of JWST relies not only on the telescope itself but also on the engineers involved, who continue to monitor and adjust the equipment.
“Due to the influence of various factors such as temperature changes and what are called ’tilt events,’ JWST requires a lifetime maintenance program,” Dr. Marcio B. Meléndez stated.
Consequently, the JWST development team must continually adjust the James Webb mirrors to keep it in optimal condition.
After each observational session, the team measures the stability, referred to as “vibration,” of the device. They then adjust the sensors to match this vibration, aiming to “lock onto the target” effectively.
JWST operates on a narrow orbit around a point in space known as Lagrange Point 2, or L2, which is located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Despite the challenges posed by distance and communication, the project team must ensure near-perfect accuracy in all device operations.
To ensure overall optical performance, James Webb needs to stabilize its orbit with deviations not exceeding the thickness of a human hair, approximately a few nanometers.
“With a stringent and highly precise overall program, we are always on standby and ready for JWST to achieve the highest optical performance, aimed at exploring the hidden mysteries of the universe,” a project representative shared.
The James Webb Space Telescope before its launch into orbit (Image: NASA).
One of the biggest differences between the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb is the distance in time into the past that they can observe.
Specifically, Hubble can only look deep into the universe. This process essentially involves looking backward to a point in the past—since light takes time to travel. Through Hubble, experts can observe the formation of the first galaxies, which occurred about 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
However, James Webb is significantly more powerful, capable of observing from just 0.3 billion years after the Big Bang.
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) once stated: “JWST will capture images so precise that we can distinguish whether a planet might be habitable.”
“Moreover, the unprecedented perspective of the universe through the Telescope will allow scientists to find answers to questions that have yet to be asked.”
