The largest telescope in human history will be launched into space

by time news

Are we on the way to resolving the question of whether humanity is the only one in the universe or whether there are other cultures outside of Earth? Humanity will begin to find out in two days – December 25, which is no coincidence that Christmas is also – after the James Webb telescope is launched on the Arian rocket, based at the European space agency Coro in the French state of Guinea.

It is the most complex and sophisticated technological device that humanity has ever launched into space, and is expected to deepen research on the beginnings of the universe and other questions, far beyond the capability that any scientific entity has had to date. In fact, James Webb’s capabilities are six times that of the “Hubble” telescope in the field of light absorption at various lengths. He will be able to look to the past of the universe, at the time when the first galaxies began to form after the Big Bang – that is, 13.35 billion years back in time.

This capability is due to the incredible sensitivity of the instrumentation installed on it, which includes, among other things, a 6.5-meter-diameter mirror, covering an area of ​​about 25 square meters, consisting of 18 hexagonal parts that will be deployed after the telescope arrives. Unmanned that has ever been launched into space. Beyond its size, the mirror is coated with a thin layer of gold atoms, due to their ability to reflect light waves in the infrared range. , Like the light emitted today from gas clouds in which new stars are formed.

The Hexagon Mirror in the James Webb Space Telescope Photo: IP

The hexagonal mirror is supported by a large panel that also carries super-sensitive optical devices weighing a total of 2,400 kg, which will work together and operate the complex and sophisticated device. On the side where the devices are located to function at a temperature of minus 220 degrees.

After the initial launch, James Webb will move to a point, 1.5 million km from Earth, which allows continuous communication through the “Deep Space Network”, an international network of antennas and communication facilities used to communicate with space vehicles and astronomical radio and radar observations. For comparison, “Hubble” cruises only 570 km from Earth. Positioning at a point has the advantage that the Earth’s atmosphere no longer has an effect on the telescope on the one hand, and on the other hand it will stand in such a line that the Earth will partially divide it from the sun, with our planet’s shadow allowing the sensitive vessel not to overheat.

In preparation for the launch, Photo: IP

James Webb: the purposes of the research

The unprecedented sensitivity of the telescope will allow it, as mentioned, to peek into the past to the beginning of the universe. It will also be able to detect the formation of new stars even within gas clouds and in places that are difficult to observe from Earth. On top of that, its sensitivity and the power of the devices on it will help detect the activity of alien civilizations in space at vast distances from Earth, and perhaps finally answer one of the questions that has plagued humanity for the last few centuries: Are we alone in the universe? According to its planners, the telescope will operate in the next decade and will reach places that humanity has never been able to observe in the past.

It is important to note that from the moment it is launched until full activity, quite a bit of time will pass, and at least five months will pass until the telescope stabilizes and reaches research activity capability, which will probably begin in six months.

Due to the enormous importance and cost of the telescope, and since it can not be repaired after launch due to its great distance from Earth, 1,200 scientists from 17 countries participated in its development, with the US space agency NASA coordinating the project unprecedented. This coming Saturday, on which he apparently finally set off.

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