The unfurling of the observatory’s giant sun shade is a major milestone for the $10bn mission.
Summary
- Its shield is deployed but its mirrors are still stowedThe new James Webb telescope has passed a major milestone in its quest to image the first stars to shine in the cosmos.
- “Unfolding Webb’s sun shield in space is an incredible milestone, crucial to the success of the mission,” said Greg Robinson, Webb’s program director at Nasa Headquarters.
- “The first time, and we nailed it,” enthused Alphonso Stewart, Nasa’s Webb deployment systems lead.
- The shade it casts will lower the environment around Webb’s mirrors and instruments to below minus 230C.
- James Webb is a joint venture between the American, European and Canadian space agencies.