Explore the fascinating journey of designing and developing the largest space telescope ever built in this comprehensive lecture by NASA's Astrophysics Division Director Mark Clampin. Delve into the evolution from the Hubble Telescope to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), understanding the complex design process, innovative mirror technology, and rigorous testing procedures that made this astronomical marvel possible. Learn about the critical six-month deployment period after launch, examine the exceptional image quality achieved, and discover how these observations are revolutionizing our understanding of the early universe, star formation, and exoplanet atmospheres. Get an exclusive preview of NASA's future astrophysics projects, including the Roman Space Telescope's investigation of dark energy and the Habitable Worlds Observatory's search for life in the universe, while gaining insights from Clampin's firsthand experience as the JWST Observatory Project Scientist.
Overview
Syllabus
Intro to the JWST and Mark
Origins in the Hubble Telescope
The design process for the JWST
The mirrors on the JWST
Testing, moving and logistics
What happened in the six months after launch?
The incredible image quality from JWST
How the JWST is changing science
What’s next for the JWST?
Taught by
The Royal Institution
Related Courses
-
James Webb Space Telescope and the Search for Earth-Like Exoplanets
-
See the Cosmos - NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope
-
Space Science and the James Webb Space Telescope: From Earth to the Stars
-
Three Biggest JWST Discoveries - Challenging the Big Bang Model
-
Solar System Science from the James Webb Space Telescope
-
The Technology and Discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope
