NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Passes Key Review Ahead of Fall Launch

NASA's next big space telescope just took a big step forward toward its planned launch this fall. From a report: The $9.8 billion James Webb Space Telescope mission has passed a key launch review, keeping it on track to lift off atop an Ariane 5 rocket before the end of the year, European Space Agency (ESA) officials announced last week. "This major milestone, carried out with Arianespace, the Webb launch service provider, confirms that Ariane 5, the Webb spacecraft and the flight plan are set for launch," ESA officials wrote in a July 1 update. "It also specifically provides the final confirmation that all aspects of the launch vehicle and spacecraft are fully compatible."

While Webb is primarily a NASA mission, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are important partners. The CSA is providing the telescope's guidance sensor and one of its scientific instruments. ESA is contributing some science gear to the mission as well and is also providing launch services, procuring the Ariane 5 heavy lifter to get Webb off the ground. The launch will take place from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Mission teams are working toward a launch readiness date of Oct. 31, but liftoff is not expected to actually take place on Halloween. "The precise launch date following 31 October depends on the spaceport's launch schedule and will be finalized closer to the launch readiness date," ESA officials wrote in the same statement.

Crossed fingers

[psergiu]

Hope the ESA engineers figured out all the issues from the last failed launches. That telescope won't do any good at the bottom of the ocean.

Re:

[psergiu]

Space is hard. Everybody has failed launches. I remember (/. article) that the last ESA launch failure was caused by swapped control cables for two of the thrusters which resulted in a loss of control.
I hope the ESA engineers either updated pre-flight check procedures or used keyed connectors in the cables so accidental swapping is no longer possible.

Re:

[jimtheowl]

Yes, I hope that too and I am sure ESA engineers are taking notes from you.

They they will sure be impressed by your ability to remember reading a /. article. After all, they might not have the same recollections abilities and perhaps would have repeated the same mistake.

Since they are likely busy right now, I would like to thank you on their behalf but my own qualifications fail me.

Re:

[psergiu]

Dear failed self-proclaimed ESA representative, on behalf of all the concerned ./-ers, we would like to thank you for the effort you are making for assuring that this launch will be successful.

Re:

[jimtheowl]

I have made no such claim and only a fool would make such assurances.

Fellow /.'ers (the slash comes before the dot) can read and speak for themselves.

Re:

[psergiu]

I do stand corrected on the spelling of /.

Dear fellow /.'ers - are you able to read and speak for yourselves in the matter ? Do you want to ?

Re:

[Lije Baley]

Hey Jim, I think your form-fitting track suit may be getting a bit too tight.
Or in other words, lighten up Francis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

Re:

[jimtheowl]

Quite insightful, in some other context I'm sure.

Re:

[Waffle Iron]

Space is hard. Everybody has failed launches. I remember (/. article) that the last ESA launch failure was caused by swapped control cables for two of the thrusters which resulted in a loss of control.
I hope the ESA engineers either updated pre-flight check procedures or used keyed connectors in the cables so accidental swapping is no longer possible.

With that experience under their belt, the next time this issue pops up they'll be able to save the mission the same way Lt. Scott would: By barking out an order to "Reverse polarity!"

Re:

[nojayuk]

The last partial failure of the Ariane V ECA which will carry the JWST was back in early 2018 with both payload satellites reaching their intended GEO positions after expending manoeuvering fuel they shouldn't have had to. The only other failure of the ECA was back in 2002 on its first flight. Since 2005 there have been over 70 successful ECA launches absent that one partial failure in 2018.

I sure hope so

[Third Position]

Given that Hubble isn't looking so good, they're probably going to need this one sooner than expected.

Re:

[GoTeam]

Along those same lines, I expect that a few minutes after launch they'll realize they forgot to "fuel" the telescope itself. Any other result would be shocking.

Re:

[boundary]

Relying on anything JWST-related being 'sooner than expected' would be dangerous.

Re:

[Jeremi]

Yeah, if this doesn't work out then Elon is going to jump in [techtimes.com], and nobody wants that -- that guy is f*cking insufferable.

Re:

[awwshit]

I hope it functions well. Would really embarrass the people that worked on it if it fails.

Re:

[PPH]

Not so expensive. Most of that $9.8 billion was for storage.

Re:

[psergiu]

As soon as you provide a suitable tether cable ...

My papers!

[Gravis Zero]

Now what am I going to use when the James Webb Space Paperweight gets launched? >;(

We'll see

[OneHundredAndTen]

At this point I would be (pleasantly) surprised if it launches at all, much more so if it happens this year.