It's happening.
The Ariane 5 rocket is scheduled to launch the James Webb Space Telescope on December 25. The blast-off was slightly delayed by a poor weather forecast. It's one of the most significant launches in history, the culmination of a quarter-century of work and over $10 billion spent. Astronomers are anxious.
"Everyone's crossing their fingers," said an assistant professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who researches exoplanets.
It's easy to watch. NASA TV will show the launch.
This will be the first step in the telescope's long journey to its viewing spot 1 million miles away. NASA said the next steps will involve the "most complex sequence of deployment ever attempted in a single space mission". One hundred and seven pins must be released for the telescope's great sun shield, which is the length of a tennis court. It will take about a month to unfurl.
If all goes as planned, the collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency will be called JWST.
The first stars and galaxies were formed over 13 billion years ago.
There are intriguing and unknown exoplanets in other solar systems.
There are thick clouds of dust and gas obscuring objects in the universe.
The process of building the scope and preparing it for launch has been a challenge. These struggles usually come with the territory when you have an ambitious goal.
The European Space Agency said in a statement that it was postponing the James Webb Space Telescope until next year. The breakthrough science that it will enable is absolutely worth the wait.
You should tune in!
