Webb has arrived!

[Jason]

The James Webb telescope has arrived at the Lagrange point L2. But it's not ready yet. It will take several weeks for the temperature to cool down to stable operating temperatures. And then it will spend five months aligning the optics and calibrating the instruments. I think it takes such a long time because these steps involve moving parts. And they want to be very careful, checking and double-checking movements so they don't damage anything. And there is a pause of several seconds if they're stopping at every step.

As Bill pointed out on this website, you can check on where it is in its preparation here:

https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

Webb is a collaboration of various private, government and universities from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), NASA and the ESA (European Space Agency). Canada has contributed two technologies, a guidance system and a spectrograph. You can find out more about our contribution at the site below and a picture of the instruments is attached. The contribution means Canada will be given exclusive time to use the telescope.

https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/jwst/canada-role.asp


Attached Image: Canada's Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. (Credit: NASA)