NASA confirmed that the James Webb Space Telescope is all set to be shipped to its launch site. It has cleared all of its tests. The tests were conducted by the engineers at Northrop Grumman. The tests were to make sure that the telescope will be fully functional after it reaches orbit. As the world’s most complicated space-based observatory, Webb plans to bring extensive upgrades to the current telescopes in orbits like the Hubble. The new space telescope will now be getting ready to be shipped to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana.
The telescope will be shipped to the launch site through the Panama Canal. The process to make it ready for shipping is expected to be concluded by September. Gregory L Robinson, program manager for Webb, notes that the entire team is working earnestly. He adds that the team is delighted to have successfully completed the tests and is looking forward to the launch mission.
Even though extensive tests on the telescope were completed, the telescope mission is now tested for its supporting aspects as it gets ready to be shipped. The supporting aspects include the testing of communications networks that the telescope will use as it reaches space. The engineers found that the present network was able to send commands to the spacecraft. Preparations for the launch are also underway. After reaching the launch site, the telescope will be analyzed for flight. It will be made sure that the transportation has not caused any damage to the telescope. It will use propellant tanks to store the fuel for the thrusters to stay in the orbit. After Webb reaches orbit, a six-month commissioning process has to be done. After the process, if everything goes according to the plan, the telescope will carry out its science mission.
