Bad Weather Forces Delay in Launch of James Webb Space Telescope

NASA’s much-awaited next-generation space telescope is finally ready to launch—just as soon as the weather cooperates. The James Webb Space Telescope, also known as JWST or Webb, has been in the works for decades. During a news conference held on Tuesday (Dec. 21), project officials confirmed that the observatory is ready to launch. However, within hours, … Read more

At Long Last, the James Webb Space Telescope Is Ready for Launch

As a NASA photographer, Chris Gunn has been documenting the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from its early days. Since 2009 he has captured every milestone and witnessed nearly all the pieces of the spacecraft being put together and tested. The telescope is scheduled to reach space in December, and in the months that follow … Read more

Science and music collide with the James Webb Space Telescope

Lee Feinberg, the Optical Telescope Element manager for Webb, who is also a musician. (Image credit: NASA/Chris Gunn) What’s the secret ingredient that has supported scientists at NASA in creating the most powerful space telescope in history? Music. The James Webb Space Telescope, a collaborative effort between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian … Read more

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launch delayed to Christmas due to weather

NASA’s much-awaited next-generation space telescope is finally ready to launch — just as soon as the weather cooperates. The James Webb Space Telescope, also known as JWST or Webb, has been in the works for decades. During a news conference held on Tuesday (Dec. 21), project officials confirmed that the observatory is ready to launch. … Read more

How to watch NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launch online in several languages on Christmas Eve

NASA is counting down towards a Christmas Eve launch for its biggest space telescope ever and you can watch it all live online. The James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to NASA and Europe’s iconic Hubble Space Telescope. The next-generation capabilities of the upcoming observatory, paired with the laundry list of mission delays over … Read more

The Nail-Biting Journey of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Is About to Begin

Editor’s Note: This story was published in September. Since then, the launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed again. It is now scheduled to lift off no earlier than December 24.  Earlier this month NASA announced that on December 18, after years of delays, the James Webb Space Telescope will finally leave Earth on a … Read more

James Webb Space Telescope: The engineering behind a ‘first light machine’ that is not allowed to fail

Randy Kimble will never forget the days in August 2017 when Hurricane Harvey battered Texas. As a project scientist for integration, test and commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), he had no option to hide at home. The giant telescope, at that time already 10 years behind schedule and considerably over budget, was … Read more

What will the James Webb Space Telescope reveal to us about dark matter?

The James Webb Space Telescope will rest in space at Lagrange Point 2, a spot directly behind Earth from the sun’s perspective. There, the instrument will make powerful observations of far-off celestial bodies; the telescope’s infrared view will be able to penetrate interstellar dust. (Image credit: Northrop Grumman) The James Webb Space Telescope could help … Read more

NASA Just Confirmed The James Webb Space Telescope Is Definitely Launching This Week!

The much-delayed launch of the James Webb space telescope will go ahead on December 24, NASA and the company overseeing the launch confirmed on Saturday. The project, begun in 1989, was originally expected to deploy the instrument – which will be the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space – in the early … Read more