The James Webb Space Telescope, set to be launched in late December, will be able to detect and analyze the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars. Hints of life on these worlds may be found in the presence of combinations of certain gases, such as oxygen plus methane. Detecting methane in trace quantities will stretch our technical abilities, though.

Please find a link, below, to a good, comprehensive article from National Public Radio (USA):

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/23/1039915145/nasa-life-planets-telescope

Michael is right! Save the date: December 18, 2021.

The largest space telescope in history is about to blow our minds

Exploring strange new worlds. Understanding the origins of the universe. Searching for life in the galaxy. These are not the plot of a new science fiction movie, but the mission objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope, the long-awaited successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA is building and launching the Webb in partnership with the European Space Agency and Canada.

The launch, which will propel the Webb to nearly a million miles away, is now scheduled for December 18, 2021. When it fully deploys in space, the Webb will usher in a new age of astronomy, scientists say, and show humanity things it has never seen before.

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/22664709/james-webb-space-telescope-launch-date-december-science-hubble?utm_source=pocket-newtab

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https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-webb-space-telescope-arrives-in-french-guiana-after-sea-voyage

NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Arrives in French Guiana After Sea Voyage

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope successfully arrived in French Guiana Tuesday, after a 16-day journey at sea. The 5,800-mile voyage took Webb from California through the Panama Canal to Port de Pariacabo on the Kourou River in French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America.

The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will now be driven to its launch site, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, where it will begin two months of operational preparations before its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket, scheduled for Dec. 18.

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/11/22/nasa-provides-update-on-webb-telescope-launch/
NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch


The launch readiness date for the James Webb Space Telescope is moving to no earlier than Dec. 22 to allow for additional testing of the observatory, following a recent incident that occurred during Webb’s launch preparations.






I have mixed feelings about the telescope?

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/11/22/nasa-provides-update-on-webb-telescope-launch/
NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch

I have mixed feelings about the telescope?

Mixed feelings? Why is that?

https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/11/22/nasa-provides-update-on-webb-telescope-launch/
NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch

I have mixed feelings about the telescope?

Mixed feelings? Why is that?

Ouch!!!

The technicians dropped it!

So... How hard a bang/jolt was that "vibration incident"?


Here's hoping no damage done other than the delays needed for retest...


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

They have been screwing around with this for a long time. lets hope that they get their act together and can produce some innovative science. Finding more transits may not add much to the store of knowledge--but for sure better resolution is always a good thing.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/11/22/nasa-provides-update-on-webb-telescope-launch/
NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch

I have mixed feelings about the telescope?

Mixed feelings? Why is that?

Ouch!!!

The technicians dropped it!

So... How hard a bang/jolt was that "vibration incident"?


Here's hoping no damage done other than the delays needed for retest...


Keep searchin',
Martin

Sounds more like the telescope received a jarring, rather than an impact on a hard surface, if I interpret their technical jargon correctly. The Webb is designed to be flung into space, atop a thundering, shuddering rocket, not exactly a gentle process! The telescope must obviously be fairly sturdy in construction, throughout.

They appear to be using a commendable abundance of caution, checking it over thoroughly enough to (slightly) delay the launch. Everyone involved will be remembering how the Hubble Space Telescope was launched with incorrectly figured optics , due to an inadequate program of every detail being checked, rechecked, and checked again.

Astronomy Now shares the good news that NASA has completed its examination of the James Webb Space Telescope, and found it undamaged by the recent inadvertent shaking it received. Launch is expected to take place on December 22nd.

Please find a link to the article, below, for further details.

https://astronomynow.com/2021/11/26/nasa-resumes-james-webb-launch-preps-after-incident-review/

https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/12/14/webb-space-telescope-launch-date-update/

Update: The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system. This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17.

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A festive gift to astronomers: James Webb Space Telescope may launch this Xmas Eve after data cable fix

The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) slipped to not earlier than December 24 as engineers investigated and today fixed up a communications problem on board the booster and spacecraft combo.

During a briefing earlier today, ESA and NASA representatives – including the US space agency's Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, Thomas Zurbuchen – extolled the scientific potential of the immensely over-budget and hugely delayed observatory, currently perched atop an Ariane 5 rocket at ArianeSpace's French Guiana facility.

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Stormy weather at Europe's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, has forced NASA and the European Space Agency to delay launch of the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope from Christmas Eve to at least Christmas Day, officials said Tuesday.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-webb-telescope-launch-nasa-delay-christmas-day/
Stormy weather delays James Webb Space Telescope launch from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day

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NASA has announced the scheduled launch of the JWST for December 25, 2021 07:20am EST (2021-12-25 12:20 GMT)

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I got up early Christmas morning to watch the JWST launch on TV (You tube) There wasn't much to watch after the initial launch due to the heavy overcast. But I got to watching the comments coming in and I must say I was amazed by the high volume of totally ignorant people making ridiculous statements about space flight in general.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Welcome to the sad wild world of Social Media Morons...

When/where was science education so badly defunded and lost?...


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

So when will it get on station . When will the unfolding be verified. When can we expect first images.

Keeping my fingers crossed and am eager to see results.

It has an actual million miles to go to get to L2.

It has unfurled it's solar panels for power.

Next is a few weeks of unfurling the rest of the structure. The sun shade takes about a week to stretch out. There's a few weeks needed to cool down the cold side. And lots more to set everything in place.

A vague estimate is six months to seeing some pretty publicity pictures.


Unfortunately, the European agency are well known for being secretive behind a PR department for showing any early results.


Indeed fingers crossed for a smooth deployment.


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

This website shows continuous progress of where it is, where it is going, and what it is doing.

Steve

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Warning, addicted to SETI crunching!
Crunching as a member of GPU Users Group.
GPUUG Website

It's now being reported that, due to the high precision of the launch and initial course correction maneuvers, the James Webb Space Telescope will have enough fuel to maintain its position in space for well over 10 years.

Even 10 years is double the minimum planned duration of the mission. It looks as if this could be trebled, as long as everything else remains in order.

Stationkeeping around the L2 point in Earth's solar orbit is subject to small perturbations, which must be corrected for with small maneuvering thrusters.

Great news.

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