NASA’s largest space telescope
Q. NASA has completed its largest space telescope which will be 100 times more powerful than the Hubble probe. What is it called?- Published on 04 Nov 16a. Tom Webb Space Telescope
b. Orion Webb Space Telescope
c. James Webb Space Telescope
d. None of the above
ANSWER: James Webb Space Telescope
NASA has successfully completed building its largest space telescope, 100 times more powerful than the Hubble probe.
- This may find galaxies formed in the early universe.
- The James Webb Space Telescope will be succeeding NASA’s 26 year old Hubble Space Telescope.
- The Webb Telescope’s infrared cameras are so sensitive that it will have to be shielded from the rays of the Sun.
- A 5-layer sunshield of the size of a tennis court will prevent the background heat from the Sun from interfering with the infrared sensors of the telescope.
- Five sunshield membrane layers are each as thin as human hair.
- Layers work together to reduce the temperature between the hot and cold sides of the observatory by 298 degree C.
- Each successive layer of the sunshield made of kapton is cooler than the one below.
- Webb has been designed to withstand the launch environment - it must be tested to verify it will indeed survive and not change in ways least expected.
- This is one test of the entire mirror where the same equipment can be used during, before and after the test.
- The telescope is a joint project of NASA, ESA and Canadian Space Agency.
