It’ll allow more support for science operation, NASA says
about the telescope’s future: its science mission is likely to last “significantly more” than 10 years — more than double the minimum time for the mission.released todaysupport scientific operations for even longer. According to NASA, the extra propellant is thanks to the precision of the Ariane 5 rocket that the JWST was on when it was launched into space.
The potential extension of scientific research is reminiscent of the Hubble telescope, which is widely considered JWST’s predecessor. NASA initially projected the Hubble telescope would last about 15 years, but it’s still operating today, more than 30 years later. A key difference between the two is that the Hubble Space Telescope was able to serviced by astronauts while JWST is not.
—including the spacecraft’s sunshield and segments of its primary mirror—are going to be human controlled, NASA says.Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week.Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you.
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