The Ariane 5 rocket with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope on board is seen on the launch pad at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. The image is from Bill Ingalls/NASA.
The rocket that will carry the James Webb Space Telescope is about to start fueling.
The Ariane 5 rocket began filling up with 175 tons of propellant about four hours before the planned Christmas morning launch. The fueling of the rocket's upper stage is expected to be completed by one hour and 22 minutes before the launch, according to an update on NASA TV.
The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to lift off at 7:21 a.m. The time is 1220 GMT. NASA TV will show live launch coverage on Space.com, beginning at 6 a.m. The time is 1100 GMT.
The James Webb Space Telescope works in pictures.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launch is live.
The Ariane5 rocket will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 8:20 AM. The live coverage starts at 6 am.
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A series of briefings will be conducted over the next few hours to make sure that the launch of the most powerful telescope ever sent away from our planet goes off without a hitch.
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