James Webb Space
The most powerful telescope ever launched into space, its greatly improved infrared resolution and sensitivity will allow it to view objects too old, distant, and faint for the Hubble Space Telescope.
The most powerful telescope ever launched into space, its greatly improved infrared resolution and sensitivity will allow it to view objects too old, distant, and faint for the Hubble Space Telescope.
Webb is in Kourou French Guiana at the ESA Launch Facility. Webb has been placed on the Ariane 5 rocket in the tightly packed configuration shown and encapsulated in the nose fairing. For launch, Webb is rolled out to the launch pad and the countdown begins.
The Ariane 5 launch vehicle provides thrust for roughly 26 minutes after liftoff from French Guiana. The first stages fire, consumes their fuel, cut off and separate. Finally the 'upper' stage fires, giving Webb its final push up and away from Earth's gravity and onto a trajectory toward its L2 orbit. The upper stage engine completes its burn, cuts-off, and separates. Webb is released from the Ariane 5 and is flying on its own in a fully stowed state.
