The James Webb Space Telescope will open up the ‘secrets of the universe,’ NASA administrator says

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks during a meeting of the National Space Council, on Dec. 1, 2021, at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks during a meeting of the National Space Council, on Dec. 1, 2021, at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington. (Image credit: Joel Kowsky/NASA)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is excited to see the James Webb Space Telescope open up the “secrets of the universe,” he told Space.com.

“This is a one of a kind,” Nelson said about the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch this Saturday (Dec. 25) at 7:20 a.m. EDT (1220 GMT) from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. “It is the most advanced technology,” he said, adding that Webb, if successful, will “open up secrets of the universe that will be just stupendous, if not almost overwhelming.”

As Nelson described, Webb will enable a “quantum leap of understanding of who we are, how we got here, what we are and how did it all evolve.”

Related: How the James Webb Space Telescope works in pictures
Live Updates: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launch

Webb observes in primarily infrared light. With the help of its extra-large mirror, which is six times bigger than the mirror on the Hubble Space Telescope, Webb will be able to detect infrared light from extremely faint, distant stars and galaxies. This will allow it to essentially look back in time to some of the earliest light in the observable universe.

” going to look through a keyhole in the sky,” Nelson said. “In one case, it’s going to peer back over 13 billion years to capture infrared light from light emitted at the formation of the very first galaxy about 250 million years after the Big Bang, which was 13 and a half billion years ago.”

Nelson also described Webb’s ability to identify and study alien planets transiting, or passing in front of their host stars. In addition to detecting exoplanets, Webb is “going to be able to determine what is the chemical composition in an atmosphere of that planet,” Nelson said. “We’re going to start to be able to determine, are there habitable atmospheres like our own revolving orbiting around other suns? That’s going to be pretty exciting to find that out.”

Webb’s science itinerary has four main areas of focus: the first light in the universe, the birth of stars and planets, how and when the universe’s first galaxies assembled and the study of exoplanets and their atmospheres. These main areas are just a jumping-off point; Webb’s ambitious science plans include the search for life outside of Earth and the study of dark matter and dark energy.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Image credit: Chris Gunn/NASA)

Feeling proud

Aside from his excitement for Webb’s next-generation capabilities, Nelson is also feeling “very proud” of the teams that brought it to life. 

“I am very proud of the NASA workforce and what they’ve done,” Nelson told Space.com. Webb is a mission over 25 years in the making, with development on the scope beginning in 1996, and some mission team members have spent their entire careers working to create Webb and get it ready to launch. 

Nelson added that he’s also “very proud of our collaboration,” as Webb is an international effort between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. 

“This is going to be a great day, not only for America, but for our international partners,” Nelson said about Webb and its upcoming launch date. “The beneficiaries are going to be all the people of planet Earth, to have a better understanding.”

Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Chelsea Gohd

Chelsea “Foxanne” Gohd joined Space.com in 2018 and is now a Senior Writer, writing about everything from climate change to planetary science and human spaceflight in both articles and on-camera in videos. With a degree in Public Health and biological sciences, Chelsea has written and worked for institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, Scientific American, Discover Magazine Blog, Astronomy Magazine and Live Science. When not writing, editing or filming something space-y, Chelsea “Foxanne” Gohd is writing music and performing as Foxanne, even launching a song to space in 2021 with Inspiration4. You can follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd and @foxannemusic.

Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
New Species of Giant Tyrannosaur Discovered in New Mexico thumbnail

New Species of Giant Tyrannosaur Discovered in New Mexico

The discovery of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, a sister species of the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, suggests that tyrannosaurid dinosaurs originated on Laramidia, an island continent that existed between 100 and 66 million years ago and stretched from modern-day Alaska to Mexico. Life reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis. Image credit: Sergey Krasovskiy. “Tyrannosaurid dinosaurs were the dominant predators in
Read More
New head of Space Force acquisitions looks to get back to basics thumbnail

New head of Space Force acquisitions looks to get back to basics

One priority for Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, is to impose discipline in procurement programs WASHINGTON — The Space Force’s new acquisition executive Frank Calvelli says there is no quick fix for problems that for years have plagued defense procurements, such as cost overruns and schedule delays. …
Read More
Finanzbehörden beschlagnahmen erstmals NFTs thumbnail

Finanzbehörden beschlagnahmen erstmals NFTs

© APA/AFP/NICOLAS ASFOURI 14.02.2022 Die Verdächtigen haben unter anderem falsche Identitäten genutzt, um ihren Täuschungsversuch zu vertuschen. Im Zuge von Ermittlungsarbeiten zu einem potenziellen Steuerbetrug wurden laut der britischen Finanzbehörde HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) 3 NFTs beschlagnahmt. Das geht aus einem Bericht von BBC News hervor. Die 3 Verdächtigen wurden festgenommen. Sie sollen versucht haben,…
Read More
Amazon’s Alexa to be tested on Artemis 1 thumbnail

Amazon’s Alexa to be tested on Artemis 1

by Jeff Foust — January 5, 2022 Callisto will test how Amazon's Alexa technology could be used by astronauts on Orion and other spacecraft to analyze data, control systems and interact with teams on the ground. Credit: Lockheed Martin WASHINGTON — The upcoming uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft will include a payload to…
Read More
Index Of News
Consider making some contribution to keep us going. We are donation based team who works to bring the best content to the readers. Every donation matters.
Donate Now

Subscription Form

Liking our Index Of News so far? Would you like to subscribe to receive news updates daily?

Total
0
Share