Facts about the James Webb Space Telescope
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Observing distant galaxies requires the James Webb Space Telescope to detect individual photons arriving at a rate of merely one per minute from the faintest objects it studies.
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Each of the 18 mirror segments on the James Webb Space Telescope can be individually adjusted by motors to maintain precise alignment within nanometers of accuracy.
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With a primary mirror spanning 6.6 meters, the James Webb Space Telescope can resolve objects separated by just 0.1 arcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing two fireflies from 200 kilometers apart.
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Engineers designed the James Webb Space Telescope's light shield to be folded origami-style, reducing its launch volume from 21 by 14 by 4.2 meters to fit inside the Ariane 5 rocket's 5.4-meter diameter fairing.
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A tennis court-sized sunshield with five layers of kapton film protects the James Webb Space Telescope's instruments by reflecting heat away and maintaining temperatures below minus 388 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope can detect light from galaxies formed within 100 million years after the Big Bang, 13.6 billion years ago.
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Positioned at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2, roughly one million miles from Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope maintains a stable orbit requiring minimal fuel adjustments.
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Its primary mirror consists of 18 hexagonal beryllium segments coated with gold to reflect infrared light efficiently.
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Launched on December 25, 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope cost approximately 10 billion dollars to develop and deploy.