NASA
ESA
CSA
Active
James Webb Space Telescope
Launched: December 25, 2021
Overview
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is NASA's flagship infrared observatory and the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. With its revolutionary technology and unprecedented sensitivity in the infrared spectrum, JWST allows astronomers to observe objects too old, distant, or faint for previous telescopes.
Primary Objectives
- Observing the universe's first galaxies
- Studying the formation and evolution of galaxies
- Understanding star and planet formation
- Examining exoplanet atmospheres
Notable Discoveries
- Detected the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z13-0
- Revealed planetary-scale storms on distant exoplanets
- Captured unprecedented details of nebulae and star-forming regions
- Observed water vapor in the atmosphere of rocky exoplanet GJ 486 b
Technical Specifications
Size
21.7 m × 14.2 m sunshield, 6.5 m primary mirror
Weight
6,500 kg
Orbit
Sun-Earth L2 point, 1.5 million km from Earth
Mission Lifetime
10+ years (planned)
