I've been following the development of the JWST when it was still being referred to as the "Next Generation Space Telescope" back in the mid nineties. Back then I was beginning my journey in amateur astronomy. It's kinda weird to be here a quarter of a century later and only now counting down to its launch.
I remember watching the launch of Cassini in the late 90's... waited 7 years for it (and Huygens) to arrive... and followed it for 13 years until its mission ended. I grew strangely attached to it and the mission.
asdf Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
I'm crossing body parts I didn't know I could cross for this launch. I went to UoN from 2015-2019 to get my Master's in Astrophysics, Mike gave me some of my first university physics lectures. I'm now working on my PhD where I'm researching exoplanet atmospheres. JWST will be extremely valuable for my research in the future - all we can do is hope the launch and deployment goes smoothly.
@@Sinnbad21 I got an "integrated Master's". They're common in the UK - 4 years long. The first 3 years are a normal 3-year bachelor's. The 4th year is basically a condensed Master's degree. I got one qualification out of it, which is recognised as a Bachelor's + Master's.
@@scottrobinson4611 ah I see. That’s awesome man. The way it typically works here in America is 2 years per degree (roughly speaking) 2 years - Associates 4 years - bachelors 6 years - Masters 8 years - Ph.D/Doctorate But they do have accelerated plans like the one you took here as well. There’s plenty of exceptions to the timelines I gave but it’s generally the average timeline you see here
@@Sinnbad21 I found some of the content in my "Extreme Astrophysics" module the hardest to learn. The module focused on high-energy phenomena - lots of stuff on AGN (active galactic nuclei), accretion disks, I think there was a bit about supernovae in there too. Specifically, I remember covering "Bremsstrahlung radiation" in a few lectures, and the information just wasn't settling in my brain. It took quite a lot of effort for me to get a half-decent grade in that class.
Would be interesting to know how much of that $10Billion was pure R&D and how much was the build/test cost. In other words, if this JWST failed, how much would it cost to make a replacement? I am sure it would be a lot less than$10Billion.
they would probably build it very differently. i think there might now be larger rockets coming that would mean it could be less foldy... but yeah the main mirrors and stuff could presumably be made much more easily.. in fact i wonder how many spares they built of a lot of the elements.
Because it took so long to develop, a lot of electronics and software that went into JWST is outdated by todays standards simply due to the fact of what was available when it was designed, built, and tested. Not to mention other issues they had which work arounds had to be developed. Those would require design changes to avoid repeating. If it needed to be rebuilt, many things would need to be upgraded. So a lot of R&D would still need to be done to qualify it for space.
@@jamescollier3 Well, the launch isn't *nothing*. It's still the most violent part of the whole thing, and probably has the most opportunities for stuff to go wrong (even if we don't notice it right away). But it's definitely not the end of the story.
@@Valkhiya I'm just saying I'd bet a lot launch doesn't blow up or put it in the wrong place. However, I wouldn't bet on successful photos sadly. I pray it works, but I thick they are asking for a lot!! I hope it all goes correctly; looking forward to the science
@@jamescollier3 Yeah, if everything goes as planned it'll be the most impressive human achiement of my lifetime for sure... I'm crossing all my fingers and toes until it's at L2 and operational.
Knowing what Hubble did for astronomy (starting the Golden age of astronomy) I can't wait what the JWT will offer. Looking further back in time, close to the Dark Ages must be incredible. Indeed fingers crossed that the launch and all the unfoldings will go as planned.
asdf Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
if james webb is successful it will definitely become a wonder in civilization games (just like hubble is), you mentioned golden age made me remember this lol
Well, Hubble has been running for 30 years and still can go another 10-15. The lifetime for this one is a meagre 5 years until the Helium runs out. I suspect this one will be a disappointment
I had the opportunity to see it being built back in '19 during a visit with a close friend who works at Goddard. I will always be grateful for being able to lay eyes on it. This video's answered many of my questions...thank you!
Just discovered that the launch has been delayed again, at least a couple if days, as the launch is now scheduled for NET December 24th.... This is a bit like Achilles and the tortoise :(
The fact that anyone believed that such a thing was even possible is admirable enough. The fact that it launched successfully and everything seems to have deployed successfully is an absolutely astonishing achievement. I can't wait for the first images to start coming through.
Could they not build another one or two or three ? Assuming the $10 billion cost is for 20 years of culminative work, the price of the actual satellite components and assembly/testing is probably less than $1 billion. Could we not shoot a number of them up and average out the sunk cost of R&D ?
I love this channel so much. I remember being in high school wanting to get a physics degree & go to Uni Nottingham for grad school……… but I almost failed calculus and now I’m halfway through law school lol
Besides the science aspect, it's always fascinating to see the handling aspects of moving something that unique and valuable. 10 billion dollars and 20 years of work by thousands, in the hands of a truck driver at one point. I can hardly imagine the anxiety of the people who worked on it for so long during the launch and startup process. Each individual hoping their one piece doesn't malfunction. One hinge failure could end the whole endeavor. I'm even a bit nervous just thinking about it.
@@Pauly421 Oh, those also failed in the tests and were called "moderate concerns", one step higher than "acceptable level of risk but continue to be monitored". A couple years ago they said that nearly half of single point failure models involve the deployment of the sunshield.
@@S.... Was just referring to any and all components, and the anxiety of those who worked on it about their part of it. Would not want to be the one responsible for failure of the whole project, due to their component failing. I know they tested it extensively.
Honestly if this does work there should be a world wide party held in honor of all the scientists and engineers that worked on this. Also if this does not work, we should all collectively morn, because we will need to get through this emotionally if we want to try again, because we will have to try again.
Great idea. Although I don't think we should try again. Most astronomers are kinda quiet about this because of publicity reasons but I think its now generally considered to have been a bad project. When it works it will be amazing but from a risk to science and price to science perspective it was a failure. It is now generally believed that more medium scale projects more rapidly is a better path. Eventually there would be another telescope like this. But I suspect WFIRST would have much higher priority and even after that the concept would be split into a coronagraph focused telescope for looking at planets and a first light focused telescope. We will probably wait for the larger rockets (starship, ect) to create non folding versions before attempting a telescope this size again.
“Also” you should be honoring all the Mechanical Technicians who actually built this amazing hardware. We spent so many years of our lives building, testing and re-testing all of Webb’s deployments, systems & sub-systems. Technicians are actually the first to see where designs are flawed and need to be modified or redesigned. Working on Webb is definitely the pinnacle of my 35yr career in aerospace. Go NGC!
I really hope that the Webb works as planned - that the launch goes OK and that the mechanism deploys properly. I fear that one or more moving parts will fail.
@Sixty Symbols I've hard nobody saying if the JWST can move relative to its solar shield. Can it move on the parallel and perpendicular axis? Or will it study only objects which' axis are always perpendicular on the axis that unites the JWST and the earth/sun, and for the other objects will wait until the earths moves around the sun?
According to arianespace on twitter: The new targeted launch date is Dec. 25, as early as possible within the following launch window: 📍 Between 07:20 a.m. and 07:52 a.m. Washington, 📍 Between 09:20 a.m. and 09:52 a.m. Kourou, 📍 Between 12:20 p.m. and 12:52 p.m. UTC, 📍 Between 01:20 p.m. and 01:52 p.m. Paris.
even for a person sitting in Pakistan who has remotely no connection with this project except some youtube videos has the figures crossed. why because i know how much Hubble has amazed me and this telescope is 100 time more powerful, imagine how much discoveries and science this telescope will discover. all the best for the team before launch, the telescope will really extend knowledge of humanity
@@Yarmox theres always something they didn't anticipate: the moon will get in the way as JWST travels to L2 and the scope will crash into the sea of tranquillity
If I remember correctly it's going to take months for it to be 100% operational. After it's all unpacked and stuff it needs to do a bunch of test/calibrations before any science can be done. One of the things it has to do is adjust each of those hexagonal mirrors and that takes a long time.
I sweat over this as a human being sharing the desire to learn more and more and have done so for half my life. It is an incredible exploration of the universe and will forever change our understanding of the cosmos!
Whats crazy to me is I had an astronomy book growing up (cant remember it at all now) but I remember reading that the hubble would be replaced by the James Webb in the future and crazy to think after all these years it's finally happening.
nbn Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
This is so great. I love how one project is bringing the whole world together. Generations of young kids will be inspired by the jwst to be scientists. what a time to be alive. I hope everything will go as planned.
Devastating for the human race if it doesn't work, in my opinion. Look how Hubble advanced what we know, think what this thing will do. I know I am so hopeful of its success.
asdf Or the pathetic ones... with 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
With so much at stake, why hasn't it been sent to low earth orbit for assembly and repair? Once certified fully operational, a tug could send it on its way to La Grange 2.
Unlike Hubble, in the best case scenario, JWST will operate for only about 10 years with no way to extend it. Then it will run out of fuel to keep it around L2.
Station keeping fuel is one thing, with careful operation it may easily last twice as long. The real problem is the cryogenics to keep the instruments cool, those really can't be stretched longer.
I always wonder why they don't spend some time making a small programmable robot to attach to the spacecraft to do remote debugging if required... like with a budget that big you would think developing a tool like that would be beneficial not just for this mission but many more to come. Something like a small robot spider which can attach and move along the spacecraft using pre-defined attach points with an arsenal of tools & debugging equipment.
Now that all the design and production foundations have been made, would it be relatively cheap to duplicate the telescope if some freak accident occurs?
Depends on what and where the accident is, I think, whether it would be cheaper to rebuild it or cheaper to design a remotely controllable drone with tools that could operate from the ground and potentially maneuver out there to attempt a fix.
I'm thinking about Mike Anderson the closer we get to the 22nd. i just went to his big bronze statue the other day. i think he would have been pretty pleased to see where NASA is now
announcer: Aaaaand the James Webb Telescope is deployed and operational! crowd: HOOORAYYYY! (back at command center) :: Mayday! we've got an object inbound on a collision course! :: Can we get a visual?!? :: Affirmative! It appears to be... a ... red? Tesla? With a spaceman on board?
~13:30 : the images won't be sharper than HST even if its mirror surface is bigger because JWST works in the infra-red : the bigger the wavelength, the lower the resolution
Also, whatever happens, JWST would be making news for either next weeks or years, which would prompt people to google what it is, which would lead some of them here. *Hello, future people! We were very nervous back now.*
My car has 100's moving parts, any one of which if it fails, will knacker the car. Was on the motorway with hundreds and hundreds of cars passing me with same designs. They all passed and none stopped! So have faith engineers, if it fails it fails, but if it deploys as planned- wow well worth the money, the effort, the risk. Big science is risky business and it doesn't come cheap (or simple).≟
The flaw in that argument is that the designs of those cars were tested in action before they were allowed anywhere near you. Think more of a prototype for a car with a new kind of propulsion, but you can only build one and are not allowed to test of it ignites before you sell it to your customer.
I've never felt so much like I wanted something to succeed that I also felt was doomed to fail. I remember the hype for the Hubble and just how big a joke it was before they fixed it in space. I hope, I hope, I hope for NASA and all of its employees they get this one right.
I'm the same. I want this to succeed not just for the myriad talented and passion individuals who have spent so much of their lives on this, but also because of the dire situation humanity finds itself in with the pandemic. I feel like this succeeeding would be the icing on a cake that have been deprived of for so very long. So, no pressure or anything JWST - I love you and your creators efforts regardless of the outcome, but of course; fingers crossed.
I know about this telescope since I was a kid in the nineties. Used to watch all space related stuff Discovery Channel put out. I can't believe how much time has passed and all those hiccups along the way. This time I'm not going to say 'I can't wait for the launch' because I've been waiting for ages haha!!!
Don't worry about it. If anyone in the project had concerns about any of the procedures, we would've heard about it by now. Aerospace engineering is like aeronautics in the sense that everyone involved are pretty aware of risk assessments, potential solutions and why the current process is the best option considered so far. Plus they've had all those years detecting possible failures and refining everything, with the last delay caused by a shade deployment test incident. The scary thing in engineering is when someone tells you they never had any concerns about the project, then you have to worry... a lot!!!
@@RadeticDaniel You're right in that they would have worked extensively to identify any possible issue and to minimise the risk, but in such a complex mission there's always a chance something has been missed and could go wrong. In aerospace engineering, sometimes it doesn't matter how much preparation you've done, it can be incredibly nerve-racking
@@matthowells6382 well, at least from the pilots side in aeronautics I know the mindset is "always alert, never anxious". If you start to slide from focused caution into restless concern, it's the signal to switch out with somebody else and make sure you don't compromise safety (or efficiency).
PhD student in astrophysics here, and while I don't have any foreseeable plans to use JWST myself, I completely empathize with my colleagues who have so much riding on the success of this mission. I guess the whole astronomical community is going to be holding our collective breath into 2022!
JWST is just 3 metres wider than would fit into a Starship fairing *unfolded*. The main mirror would fit unfolded with 2.5 metres to spare so a lot of those single point failure issues could be eliminated.
As well you should. Remember when they sent up the much simpler Hubble, then realized once it was in space that it would need glasses to see in focus? Luckily they could just send up some dudes to install corrective lenses. With this weird thing, no way.
I wonder if they would try to fix a problem with JWST by sending a little robot up there that could tighten bolts or whatever it needed. That would actually be pretty awesome, not that I'm hoping it'll be necessary. Perhaps there's already a plan for a remote rescue mission like that over at NASA.
@@gyorficserka I think it depends on what the mission would call for. Say the shield didn't fully deploy and we knew for sure that we could get it unstuck with one simple operation, I gotta think they would give it a go. I mean, we're talking about a $10 billion project here, so if they could fix it for a fraction of that, then that could be worth it for them. Anyway, I looked and it turns out that JWST does have a "docking ring" on it, so I guess they must have some plans somewhere. I'd be interested to know what they are, even if nothing goes wrong.
@@ThisSteveGuy That's easy to answer. There are no such plans. The number of possible failure modes is just too large, and the percentage of them that would be fixable even with unlimited resources would be too small, to justify the development of such a solution. Its cost and complexity would quickly outrun that of the telescope itself, for something that everyone hopes would never even be used. Another problem is time. By the moment we press the launch button, this telescope comes with an expiration date, which is set by the amount of coolant and propellant on board. These will run out regardless of whether the telescope is used for science or not, and they will run out fast (JWST has about 10 years). So, if we found a problem and then started developing a solution, that would take years in itself. By the time we might fix it, too much of the mission would be over to make it worthwhile.
You are right about the docking ring though. That was a simple addition that makes a service mission by astronauts at least theoretically possible. Sadly we don't really have the rocket to send the astronauts there (NASA's SLS rocket suffers massive delays as well), but if JWST needs fixing then that extra motivation may do wonders. Who knows... Would NASA rush the development of a crewed spacecraft to fix a machine, and risk the lifes of astronauts in the process? I don't think so. In that sense, this possibility really is theoretical, and is there to silence those critics who may one day say "you could at least have put a docking ring on it". There's no way we'll ever use it, but it doesn't cost much.
@@renerpho I've read that the JWST also includes ports made for refilling everything while in space. I'm not saying that means a refueling mission is likely or anything, but I'm still curious about what plans exist. NASA tends to plan for every imaginable scenario, after all. And yeah, they would never consider flying people way out there, that would be insane. I'm only talking about doing these things remotely with a robotic arm or something.
What? You don't like 1/3 cumulative odds? This thing seems waaay too complex for comfort. It's the first time since the Space shuttle that I've felt pessimistic about success.
This is the instrument I could be doing science on in 5-10 years. I'm incredibly nervous, knocking on my wood, wearing my lucky hat inside out, hoping this goes well.
First light on this one is gonna see me crack open some serious spirits. *Edit:* Re: Nervousness - _I'm_ nervous. If this thing ends up a $10 billion piece of e-waste I'm worried it'll be used as ammo for the anti-science crowd.
it would not be a shame. It would actually be delightful. This entire project is a complete waste of money. We need to invest in astroid defense. Not in research.
@@beta_cygni1950 they invented and built the JWST for 10 billion. They probably could have done it cheaper if they paired it with the correct Rocket, something like the Space X starship. Then after the JWST fails at L2 and can't be service we still have a functional large Rocket to show for our $10B.
@@ColCurtis Umm, no. How would they have done that? The initial design into the Ariane 5 faring predates any usable space x rocket by at least 10 years (the final JWST design was completed in 2016. The first Falcon Heavy flight wasn't until 2018). JWST was designed to fit in the faring of the Ariane5, it was designed for the vibration profile of that rocket, it was designed for the flight profile of that rocket, etc. To use the FH would require a redesign & retest of everything... which would require a few more years and another several billion dollars. Besides, the Ariane5 is very reliable. Its has a better record with more flights than the FH. "Ariane 5 launch vehicles have accumulated 111 launches since 1996, 106 of which were successful, yielding a 95.5% success rate. Between April 2003 and December 2017, Ariane 5 flew 83 consecutive missions without failure". And NASA is paying NOTHING for the rocket or launch facilities. Its free for NASA. The rocket and launch facility is being supplied by the ESA as their part in the joint mission.
@@beta_cygni1950 Designing, building and testing a rocket specifically to launch the JWST so that it doesn't need to be so complicated would probably have been cheaper. Plus after the JWST doesn't unfold in space we would still have a Rocket to show for our 10 billion investment. With a large rocket they could have paused in low earth orbit to unfold then pushed the JWST to L2.
@@ColCurtis ...and with that comment, you prove that you have no idea how any of this works. Wow, Curtis. Just ask space X how much time and money went in to developing their rocket. And how about the SLS? You don't just, as a side project, go and design & build a rocket. Why don't you just whine & complain that they didn't invent a star trek transporter to beam JWST to L2? It would be just as feasible as what you just said.
The JWST is so powerful that it will be able to see things that happened shortly after the JWST was commissioned
lol
+1
Amazing technology!
Funny !
It’s powerful but not that powerful…
"We design our satellites with as few moving parts as possible..."
James Webb: * Transformers sound effect *
*Optimum pride Ugh ugh arg ach ag
LOL...yeah, pretty much!
It literally is a transformer!
I've been following the development of the JWST when it was still being referred to as the "Next Generation Space Telescope" back in the mid nineties. Back then I was beginning my journey in amateur astronomy. It's kinda weird to be here a quarter of a century later and only now counting down to its launch.
I learned about it in early 2000's so I know what you mean. Very exciting times we are in!
I remember watching the launch of Cassini in the late 90's... waited 7 years for it (and Huygens) to arrive... and followed it for 13 years until its mission ended. I grew strangely attached to it and the mission.
asdf Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
@@luisbeck007 seriously lay off of the drugs.
asdf Trolls with no business proposals will be blocked; grew up !
Man, if a lay-person wanted a decently detailed rundown of this mission in 15 or so minutes, THIS was the video!! Much much appreciated!!
false.
It's really heartwarming to know that serious scientists also read XKCD.
There's really a relevant XKCD for everything haha
It's a really smart webcomic, I would be more surprised if they didn't.
Serious scientists are just people
Exactly what I thought, Martin
I've got my undergrad and masters in Physics, and currently work in a high tech laser company. Can confirm that academics love xkcd
I'm crossing body parts I didn't know I could cross for this launch.
I went to UoN from 2015-2019 to get my Master's in Astrophysics, Mike gave me some of my first university physics lectures.
I'm now working on my PhD where I'm researching exoplanet atmospheres. JWST will be extremely valuable for my research in the future - all we can do is hope the launch and deployment goes smoothly.
You got a Masters in 4 years? Nice. Congrats!
@@Sinnbad21 I got an "integrated Master's".
They're common in the UK - 4 years long.
The first 3 years are a normal 3-year bachelor's.
The 4th year is basically a condensed Master's degree.
I got one qualification out of it, which is recognised as a Bachelor's + Master's.
@@scottrobinson4611 ah I see. That’s awesome man. The way it typically works here in America is 2 years per degree (roughly speaking)
2 years - Associates
4 years - bachelors
6 years - Masters
8 years - Ph.D/Doctorate
But they do have accelerated plans like the one you took here as well. There’s plenty of exceptions to the timelines I gave but it’s generally the average timeline you see here
@@scottrobinson4611 If you don’t mind me asking, from what you remember in college, what lesson/s was the hardest in Astrophysics to learn or grasp?
@@Sinnbad21 I found some of the content in my "Extreme Astrophysics" module the hardest to learn. The module focused on high-energy phenomena - lots of stuff on AGN (active galactic nuclei), accretion disks, I think there was a bit about supernovae in there too.
Specifically, I remember covering "Bremsstrahlung radiation" in a few lectures, and the information just wasn't settling in my brain.
It took quite a lot of effort for me to get a half-decent grade in that class.
Would be interesting to know how much of that $10Billion was pure R&D and how much was the build/test cost. In other words, if this JWST failed, how much would it cost to make a replacement? I am sure it would be a lot less than$10Billion.
they would probably build it very differently. i think there might now be larger rockets coming that would mean it could be less foldy... but yeah the main mirrors and stuff could presumably be made much more easily.. in fact i wonder how many spares they built of a lot of the elements.
Because it took so long to develop, a lot of electronics and software that went into JWST is outdated by todays standards simply due to the fact of what was available when it was designed, built, and tested.
Not to mention other issues they had which work arounds had to be developed. Those would require design changes to avoid repeating.
If it needed to be rebuilt, many things would need to be upgraded. So a lot of R&D would still need to be done to qualify it for space.
I think they would just proceed with LUVOIR
Northrop Grumman ate $5 billion before they even started building it, so at least $5 billion in R&D.
@@MyAvitech if it's technically outdated and a copy of it would be unfit for space as is...then how is the current model considered fit for space?
And it has now been pushed back by two days, currently scheduled for the 24th.
NASA truly are the ultimate masters of building up hype.
yes.... just heard the news WTH...
Wouldn't hold my breath, they might delay it to 22th January next year.🤣
Why the 24th? What if they hit Santa?
@@ronjohnson2193another Single Point of Failure... the 345th
The ultimate tease
I didn't know about the 344 single point failures, even a few would be scary.
yeah. the launch is nothing.
@@jamescollier3 Well, the launch isn't *nothing*. It's still the most violent part of the whole thing, and probably has the most opportunities for stuff to go wrong (even if we don't notice it right away). But it's definitely not the end of the story.
@@Valkhiya I'm just saying I'd bet a lot launch doesn't blow up or put it in the wrong place. However, I wouldn't bet on successful photos sadly. I pray it works, but I thick they are asking for a lot!! I hope it all goes correctly; looking forward to the science
@@jamescollier3 Yeah, if everything goes as planned it'll be the most impressive human achiement of my lifetime for sure... I'm crossing all my fingers and toes until it's at L2 and operational.
Its like a mario sky level with 344 hard jumps
Knowing what Hubble did for astronomy (starting the Golden age of astronomy) I can't wait what the JWT will offer. Looking further back in time, close to the Dark Ages must be incredible. Indeed fingers crossed that the launch and all the unfoldings will go as planned.
James Webb Telescope begins the Beryllium Age of Astronomy! :)
asdf Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
if james webb is successful it will definitely become a wonder in civilization games (just like hubble is), you mentioned golden age made me remember this lol
Well, Hubble has been running for 30 years and still can go another 10-15. The lifetime for this one is a meagre 5 years until the Helium runs out. I suspect this one will be a disappointment
@@luisbeck007 Oh man, you need to lay off the leaves.
I had the opportunity to see it being built back in '19 during a visit with a close friend who works at Goddard. I will always be grateful for being able to lay eyes on it. This video's answered many of my questions...thank you!
Great! I went to see the space station in bits when it was called Leonardo.
No person will be able to see it now for quite a while.
Just discovered that the launch has been delayed again, at least a couple if days, as the launch is now scheduled for NET December 24th.... This is a bit like Achilles and the tortoise :(
I keep making the mistake they are not talking about days but they mean the year. Dec 2018 - Dec 2022 - Dec 2024. How odd.
Now it's the 25th
I'm soo invested into this and Prof. you and this channel are one of the reasons why I got into astronomy, many thanks
The fact that anyone believed that such a thing was even possible is admirable enough. The fact that it launched successfully and everything seems to have deployed successfully is an absolutely astonishing achievement. I can't wait for the first images to start coming through.
It's crazy to look back at how anxious and stressed and full of hope we all were back then. It all paid off in the end!
This fellow is a joy to listen to. Such a pleasant voice and engaging manner of speaking.
And now it's set for Christmas Eve!! 🥰
I want a Mike Merrifield livestream so I can witness the JWST launch on one screen and his reaction in the other. Hopefully with positive results!
The moment it lifted off, I was teary eyed! 🥲
8:05 And what a contribution it was! 10 years of bonus telescope life from Ariane's precision!
Not nervous at all! I feel extremely proud to have worked on JSWT. Hold on everyone…. The best is yet to come!
So many were skeptical of the myriad of in-flight assembly steps. Very grateful your team proved them wrong.
Could they not build another one or two or three ?
Assuming the $10 billion cost is for 20 years of culminative work, the price of the actual satellite components and assembly/testing is probably less than $1 billion.
Could we not shoot a number of them up and average out the sunk cost of R&D ?
Fantastic video, gave me a lot of inspiration for questions to ask my optical physics professor tomorrow
I truly hope everything goes well on the 24th. Kudos to the entire teams for getting this far.
22th
I heard the 344 points of failure and did some Feynman math and thought "wow, that could be as low as a 50/50 chance this thing just never works"
Hope it all works as planned! And thanks for the update!
Just changed my wallpaper to nice James Webb poster.
I love this channel so much. I remember being in high school wanting to get a physics degree & go to Uni Nottingham for grad school……… but I almost failed calculus and now I’m halfway through law school lol
Calculus is a stumbling block for a lot of people, and law school is a noble field to go down!
ok?
Besides the science aspect, it's always fascinating to see the handling aspects of moving something that unique and valuable. 10 billion dollars and 20 years of work by thousands, in the hands of a truck driver at one point.
I can hardly imagine the anxiety of the people who worked on it for so long during the launch and startup process. Each individual hoping their one piece doesn't malfunction. One hinge failure could end the whole endeavor.
I'm even a bit nervous just thinking about it.
The hinge did failed. They needed to reschedule the launch lately because of that.
@@S.... It was a holding clamp that failed. The hinges the OP is talking about are the ones that need to unfold at the final orbit point.
@@Pauly421 Oh, those also failed in the tests and were called "moderate concerns", one step higher than "acceptable level of risk but continue to be monitored".
A couple years ago they said that nearly half of single point failure models involve the deployment of the sunshield.
@@S.... Was just referring to any and all components, and the anxiety of those who worked on it about their part of it. Would not want to be the one responsible for failure of the whole project, due to their component failing. I know they tested it extensively.
That current date-launch date graph is genius
Honestly if this does work there should be a world wide party held in honor of all the scientists and engineers that worked on this. Also if this does not work, we should all collectively morn, because we will need to get through this emotionally if we want to try again, because we will have to try again.
I will become physically sick if something goes wrong with this telescope!
I agree 100%
Great idea. Although I don't think we should try again. Most astronomers are kinda quiet about this because of publicity reasons but I think its now generally considered to have been a bad project. When it works it will be amazing but from a risk to science and price to science perspective it was a failure. It is now generally believed that more medium scale projects more rapidly is a better path. Eventually there would be another telescope like this. But I suspect WFIRST would have much higher priority and even after that the concept would be split into a coronagraph focused telescope for looking at planets and a first light focused telescope. We will probably wait for the larger rockets (starship, ect) to create non folding versions before attempting a telescope this size again.
“Also” you should be honoring all the Mechanical Technicians who actually built this amazing hardware. We spent so many years of our lives building, testing and re-testing all of Webb’s deployments, systems & sub-systems. Technicians are actually the first to see where designs are flawed and need to be modified or redesigned. Working on Webb is definitely the pinnacle of my 35yr career in aerospace. Go NGC!
false.
I really hope that the Webb works as planned - that the launch goes OK and that the mechanism deploys properly. I fear that one or more moving parts will fail.
Fingers and toes. Was talking with a friend yesterday and the “ what if it….” Came up.
Everything will be fine:)
@Sixty Symbols I've hard nobody saying if the JWST can move relative to its solar shield. Can it move on the parallel and perpendicular axis? Or will it study only objects which' axis are always perpendicular on the axis that unites the JWST and the earth/sun, and for the other objects will wait until the earths moves around the sun?
I believe the ‘dish’ can pivot and move to focus on objects.
Imagine all of this and they nearly dropped it! Hoping for a successful launch.
According to arianespace on twitter:
The new targeted launch date is Dec. 25, as early as possible within the following launch window:
📍 Between 07:20 a.m. and 07:52 a.m. Washington,
📍 Between 09:20 a.m. and 09:52 a.m. Kourou,
📍 Between 12:20 p.m. and 12:52 p.m. UTC,
📍 Between 01:20 p.m. and 01:52 p.m. Paris.
As a Quality Manager I am SO happy i am not leading the risk management of JWST... stuff of nightmares
They are very brave people.
Best Christmas Eve ever - watching the launch with a calming glass of bubbly.
even for a person sitting in Pakistan who has remotely no connection with this project except some youtube videos has the figures crossed. why because i know how much Hubble has amazed me and this telescope is 100 time more powerful, imagine how much discoveries and science this telescope will discover. all the best for the team before launch, the telescope will really extend knowledge of humanity
Pisslam will never invent anything like that
ok?
Smooth sailing so far! Fingers crossed for the rest of deployment! And merry Christmas everyone! 🎄
Ive been looking forward to this telescope launching since it was commissioned. Truly going to unlock the next chapter in what we know about space.
u are so optimistic. my guess is something goes wrong. JWST got too ambitious. A 33% bigger Hubble would have been great and a lot easier.
@@plasmaastronaut its going, and I believe it will succeed
@@Yarmox theres always something they didn't anticipate: the moon will get in the way as JWST travels to L2 and the scope will crash into the sea of tranquillity
If I remember correctly it's going to take months for it to be 100% operational. After it's all unpacked and stuff it needs to do a bunch of test/calibrations before any science can be done. One of the things it has to do is adjust each of those hexagonal mirrors and that takes a long time.
Fun fact is that it will be just cooling for a couple of months and only than it could be turned on for those calibrations.
As of 8 January 2022, the telescope has been fully and successfully unfolded to its operational configuration
I sweat over this as a human being sharing the desire to learn more and more and have done so for half my life. It is an incredible exploration of the universe and will forever change our understanding of the cosmos!
Whats crazy to me is I had an astronomy book growing up (cant remember it at all now) but I remember reading that the hubble would be replaced by the James Webb in the future and crazy to think after all these years it's finally happening.
nbn Those Space Agencies are or do a little bit of science and the rest is corruption... and this is the reason: With 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
I love the ESA French Guyana launch facility, it's like a super villain base, but it's for launching scientific missions.
They'll most likely reschedule the launch again for the year 2184, then when that year comes they'll just put it in a museum
What did you say?
I was young and in high school for Hubble. So I get to ride the crest of excitement twice. Lucky Webb calibrated very very well.
10:44 I love how even the fine-tuning mirror has the iconic hexagonal shape!
This is so great. I love how one project is bringing the whole world together. Generations of young kids will be inspired by the jwst to be scientists. what a time to be alive. I hope everything will go as planned.
Devastating for the human race if it doesn't work, in my opinion. Look how Hubble advanced what we know, think what this thing will do. I know I am so hopeful of its success.
Thank you for a fantastic explanation and detail on the many aspects of this well thought through science experiment. Fingers crossed!
This will be either the best or the worst christmas :D
You're stressing me out
If it's any help: We may only learn if anything has failed months into the mission.
The launch has been put off until 25th because of high winds which could endanger the launch.
Been waiting for its launch since 2k18, can't wait for it to release the wonders of the universe ❤️
asdf Or the pathetic ones... with 10 Billion Dollars I can build a Spacecraft at least 10 Thousand years in advance while NASA not even with 10 Trillion Dollars. Why is that ? Because of the factor cheating... humans like all alive organisms like cheating others each time they can... which means the procedures they use for spending they money should be different... because it is not possible to survive in the Universe by cheating... it is just too big and we are just too small. They already lost more than the entire money in the Planet. And this is the explanation. If you dont have 10 Thousand new technologies that is equal to 10 Thousand years or more lost on technological aspects. And that is what they are doing at the end at those Space Agencies plus companies: destroying the future... because they wont be able to build more than what they can steal. For example: not even after 900 Thousand years they will be able to have the needed equipment. Also because of the factor cheating individuals. They think they are doing wonders or that they have advanced or great technological achievements. But on Space Projects they are at the Stone Age... how do I know that ? Because even for the Mars projects they needed to steal the comments on TH-cam... before that they wanted to drop people on Mars. Which means they are delaying and delaying the technologies while stealing less than 0.0000000000000000000001 percent of the needed knowledge... now imagine; if they do that to other Humans ? What wont they do to extraterrestrials ? Once they catch them with their new telescope they will be stolen... lol :-) But even if they do that; they wont be able to have the needed Spacecrafts for surviving in the Universe... because I am Unique... only me knows how to build those Spacecrafts at least 10 Thousand years in advance. The others will be able to build interesting things but not what I already know... reason why for being in charge of Space Projects people need to have a minimum of ethics...
@@luisbeck007 imagine pasting the same comment over and over lol how sad 😂😂
sdf Trolls with no business proposals will be blocked; grew up !
How will be able to observe solar system objects if it is by the design (of fixed shading) locked to be perpendicular to the plane of ecliptic?
With so much at stake, why hasn't it been sent to low earth orbit for assembly and repair? Once certified fully operational, a tug could send it on its way to La Grange 2.
between filming and publication its been moved another 3 days
Unlike Hubble, in the best case scenario, JWST will operate for only about 10 years with no way to extend it. Then it will run out of fuel to keep it around L2.
No way it's going to work anyway
@@jamespong6588 will you come back here and admit you were wrong when they send down the first light images?
Station keeping fuel is one thing, with careful operation it may easily last twice as long. The real problem is the cryogenics to keep the instruments cool, those really can't be stretched longer.
They have 10 years from the point it reaches it’s destination, granted that it does so… to come up with a plan to refuel it.
I always wonder why they don't spend some time making a small programmable robot to attach to the spacecraft to do remote debugging if required... like with a budget that big you would think developing a tool like that would be beneficial not just for this mission but many more to come. Something like a small robot spider which can attach and move along the spacecraft using pre-defined attach points with an arsenal of tools & debugging equipment.
That last single point failure to be ticked off the list will be responsible for a few heart attacks i reckon.
I’m glad I’m not the only one really worried about this launch and deployment. I’ve heard the phrase “myriad ways it can go wrong” too many times now.
For the cost of the Iraq War we could have built 200 JWSTs. Any guess as to what their combined strength could see.
Now that all the design and production foundations have been made, would it be relatively cheap to duplicate the telescope if some freak accident occurs?
Depends on what and where the accident is, I think, whether it would be cheaper to rebuild it or cheaper to design a remotely controllable drone with tools that could operate from the ground and potentially maneuver out there to attempt a fix.
Mind you, nasty as beryllium might be, that's mostly down to beryllium dust. It's used in plenty of alloys due to its lightness and strength.
That dust meant that the mirror polishing machines were just unreusable toxic waste after they finished.
I'll mind that in the future.
Beryllium windows are also used in X-ray machines and microwave ovens due to their transparency in those wavelengths
And its non sparking property.
I'm thinking about Mike Anderson the closer we get to the 22nd. i just went to his big bronze statue the other day. i think he would have been pretty pleased to see where NASA is now
announcer: Aaaaand the James Webb Telescope is deployed and operational!
crowd: HOOORAYYYY!
(back at command center)
:: Mayday! we've got an object inbound on a collision course!
:: Can we get a visual?!?
:: Affirmative! It appears to be... a ... red? Tesla? With a spaceman on board?
Well Elon Musk better up his security after this.
~13:30 : the images won't be sharper than HST even if its mirror surface is bigger because JWST works in the infra-red : the bigger the wavelength, the lower the resolution
It's already moved past Dec. 22, to (for now :P) 24th.
@JZ's Best Friend No change there yet.
Also, whatever happens, JWST would be making news for either next weeks or years, which would prompt people to google what it is, which would lead some of them here. *Hello, future people! We were very nervous back now.*
If this thing see's first light it's going to be truly historic on the order of the moon landing.
My car has 100's moving parts, any one of which if it fails, will knacker the car.
Was on the motorway with hundreds and hundreds of cars passing me with same designs.
They all passed and none stopped!
So have faith engineers, if it fails it fails, but if it deploys as planned- wow well worth the money, the effort, the risk. Big science is risky business and it doesn't come cheap (or simple).≟
The flaw in that argument is that the designs of those cars were tested in action before they were allowed anywhere near you. Think more of a prototype for a car with a new kind of propulsion, but you can only build one and are not allowed to test of it ignites before you sell it to your customer.
I've never felt so much like I wanted something to succeed that I also felt was doomed to fail. I remember the hype for the Hubble and just how big a joke it was before they fixed it in space. I hope, I hope, I hope for NASA and all of its employees they get this one right.
I'm the same. I want this to succeed not just for the myriad talented and passion individuals who have spent so much of their lives on this, but also because of the dire situation humanity finds itself in with the pandemic. I feel like this succeeeding would be the icing on a cake that have been deprived of for so very long. So, no pressure or anything JWST - I love you and your creators efforts regardless of the outcome, but of course; fingers crossed.
I know about this telescope since I was a kid in the nineties. Used to watch all space related stuff Discovery Channel put out. I can't believe how much time has passed and all those hiccups along the way. This time I'm not going to say 'I can't wait for the launch' because I've been waiting for ages haha!!!
I have nothing to do with this and I’m nervous, I can’t imagine what the people who worked on this are feeling.
Don't worry about it. If anyone in the project had concerns about any of the procedures, we would've heard about it by now.
Aerospace engineering is like aeronautics in the sense that everyone involved are pretty aware of risk assessments, potential solutions and why the current process is the best option considered so far.
Plus they've had all those years detecting possible failures and refining everything, with the last delay caused by a shade deployment test incident.
The scary thing in engineering is when someone tells you they never had any concerns about the project, then you have to worry... a lot!!!
@@RadeticDaniel Everyone is concerned and we heard it multiple times.
@@RadeticDaniel You're right in that they would have worked extensively to identify any possible issue and to minimise the risk, but in such a complex mission there's always a chance something has been missed and could go wrong. In aerospace engineering, sometimes it doesn't matter how much preparation you've done, it can be incredibly nerve-racking
@@matthowells6382 well, at least from the pilots side in aeronautics I know the mindset is "always alert, never anxious".
If you start to slide from focused caution into restless concern, it's the signal to switch out with somebody else and make sure you don't compromise safety (or efficiency).
Very proud!
PhD student in astrophysics here, and while I don't have any foreseeable plans to use JWST myself, I completely empathize with my colleagues who have so much riding on the success of this mission. I guess the whole astronomical community is going to be holding our collective breath into 2022!
That includes us amateurs! Our fingers are all crossed for Webb, too!!
Fred
This will be huge for science and Humanity if it succeeds. Let's hope it succeeds.
Let’s hope that if it fails - someone learns from this mistake.
@@dosomething3 did NASA hurt you?
can't wait to see the launch and the first light
JWST is just 3 metres wider than would fit into a Starship fairing *unfolded*. The main mirror would fit unfolded with 2.5 metres to spare so a lot of those single point failure issues could be eliminated.
But it would be much more likely to blow up before it gets to orbit...
Except that there is no starship to fly it
Because you know more than NASA sure 🤣
9:50 Are there any other (ground-based) telescopes using this idea? (Three mirrors to control the aberrations better?)
The more I learn about the James Webb, the more anxiety I feel
As well you should. Remember when they sent up the much simpler Hubble, then realized once it was in space that it would need glasses to see in focus? Luckily they could just send up some dudes to install corrective lenses. With this weird thing, no way.
@@carlodave9 Thank you so much for that
Word just dropped as of Dec 17, 2021 that the launch date is now rescheduled for dec 24 @ 0720 EST.
I wonder if they would try to fix a problem with JWST by sending a little robot up there that could tighten bolts or whatever it needed. That would actually be pretty awesome, not that I'm hoping it'll be necessary. Perhaps there's already a plan for a remote rescue mission like that over at NASA.
I think that is far beyond our current robot capabilities
@@gyorficserka I think it depends on what the mission would call for. Say the shield didn't fully deploy and we knew for sure that we could get it unstuck with one simple operation, I gotta think they would give it a go. I mean, we're talking about a $10 billion project here, so if they could fix it for a fraction of that, then that could be worth it for them. Anyway, I looked and it turns out that JWST does have a "docking ring" on it, so I guess they must have some plans somewhere. I'd be interested to know what they are, even if nothing goes wrong.
@@ThisSteveGuy That's easy to answer. There are no such plans. The number of possible failure modes is just too large, and the percentage of them that would be fixable even with unlimited resources would be too small, to justify the development of such a solution. Its cost and complexity would quickly outrun that of the telescope itself, for something that everyone hopes would never even be used.
Another problem is time. By the moment we press the launch button, this telescope comes with an expiration date, which is set by the amount of coolant and propellant on board. These will run out regardless of whether the telescope is used for science or not, and they will run out fast (JWST has about 10 years). So, if we found a problem and then started developing a solution, that would take years in itself. By the time we might fix it, too much of the mission would be over to make it worthwhile.
You are right about the docking ring though. That was a simple addition that makes a service mission by astronauts at least theoretically possible. Sadly we don't really have the rocket to send the astronauts there (NASA's SLS rocket suffers massive delays as well), but if JWST needs fixing then that extra motivation may do wonders. Who knows...
Would NASA rush the development of a crewed spacecraft to fix a machine, and risk the lifes of astronauts in the process? I don't think so. In that sense, this possibility really is theoretical, and is there to silence those critics who may one day say "you could at least have put a docking ring on it". There's no way we'll ever use it, but it doesn't cost much.
@@renerpho I've read that the JWST also includes ports made for refilling everything while in space. I'm not saying that means a refueling mission is likely or anything, but I'm still curious about what plans exist. NASA tends to plan for every imaginable scenario, after all. And yeah, they would never consider flying people way out there, that would be insane. I'm only talking about doing these things remotely with a robotic arm or something.
It makes me anxious to hear about it.
I imagine that a lot of engineering time has been spent making sure that those 344 things have a failure rate much lower than 1/1000
Just identifying them is a huge task in itself. Let's hope there aren't really 345 of them.
How many components are Made In China, the Philippines, etc ??
What? You don't like 1/3 cumulative odds? This thing seems waaay too complex for comfort. It's the first time since the Space shuttle that I've felt pessimistic about success.
@@peterdarr383 Ah yes, that very typical sweatshop/factory in China that makes highly specialized, space-grade telescope parts for NASA.
make up a guy: guy who's racist for no reason in the comments of an astronomy video
What is the mechanics behind the heat shield separating into the individual planes? Extraordinary science and mechanical instrument
This is the instrument I could be doing science on in 5-10 years. I'm incredibly nervous, knocking on my wood, wearing my lucky hat inside out, hoping this goes well.
ok?
24th now, wonder if it will get launched before christmas
First light on this one is gonna see me crack open some serious spirits.
*Edit:* Re: Nervousness - _I'm_ nervous. If this thing ends up a $10 billion piece of e-waste I'm worried it'll be used as ammo for the anti-science crowd.
I promise you that it would be, and it will be powerful enough to cause a lot of carnage.
@JZ's Best Friend you forgot the /s
you did forget it, didn't you?
@JZ's Best Friend "sign posts"??
"/s" is used to indicate sarcasm...
The launch date has moved again to the 24th December.
Fingers crossed. I haven't been this excited about space stuff in years.
Hexagons are the bestagons!
Excellent video...lots of interesting information and all of it explained very clearly!
...but can the JWST see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch™️?
coo00000kie crisp
Wow, can't wait! 2:14 exciting.. 3:00 hmm how much is one aircraft carrier? 2 thumbs up to all the crews of those amazing ships.
It's taken so long for this to get off the ground, it would be a shame if the rocket exploded before we get to use the telescope...
it would not be a shame. It would actually be delightful. This entire project is a complete waste of money. We need to invest in astroid defense. Not in research.
@@dosomething3 how would it exploding now give you the money back?
@@dosomething3 were doing both tho 😂
Can the JWST look in any direction, or does the sunshade permanently block part of the sky?
It probably would have been cheaper and quicker to just build a bigger Rocket faring to hold the JWST without folding every piece.
And then do what? You still need a rocket powerful enough to launch it.
@@beta_cygni1950 they invented and built the JWST for 10 billion. They probably could have done it cheaper if they paired it with the correct Rocket, something like the Space X starship. Then after the JWST fails at L2 and can't be service we still have a functional large Rocket to show for our $10B.
@@ColCurtis Umm, no. How would they have done that? The initial design into the Ariane 5 faring predates any usable space x rocket by at least 10 years (the final JWST design was completed in 2016. The first Falcon Heavy flight wasn't until 2018).
JWST was designed to fit in the faring of the Ariane5, it was designed for the vibration profile of that rocket, it was designed for the flight profile of that rocket, etc. To use the FH would require a redesign & retest of everything... which would require a few more years and another several billion dollars.
Besides, the Ariane5 is very reliable. Its has a better record with more flights than the FH. "Ariane 5 launch vehicles have accumulated 111 launches since 1996, 106 of which were successful, yielding a 95.5% success rate. Between April 2003 and December 2017, Ariane 5 flew 83 consecutive missions without failure".
And NASA is paying NOTHING for the rocket or launch facilities. Its free for NASA. The rocket and launch facility is being supplied by the ESA as their part in the joint mission.
@@beta_cygni1950 Designing, building and testing a rocket specifically to launch the JWST so that it doesn't need to be so complicated would probably have been cheaper. Plus after the JWST doesn't unfold in space we would still have a Rocket to show for our 10 billion investment. With a large rocket they could have paused in low earth orbit to unfold then pushed the JWST to L2.
@@ColCurtis ...and with that comment, you prove that you have no idea how any of this works. Wow, Curtis.
Just ask space X how much time and money went in to developing their rocket. And how about the SLS? You don't just, as a side project, go and design & build a rocket.
Why don't you just whine & complain that they didn't invent a star trek transporter to beam JWST to L2? It would be just as feasible as what you just said.
Are there Peltier elements used between the heet absorbing sheets to generate electricity?
Every time the launch is delayed, that’s that much less we can see into the past.
How does this compare against the mars missions? How many point failures did they have?