These images show how it fits into the rocket fairing. The launch campaign preparation and launch campaign is the mutual responsibility of NASA, ESA, Northrop Grumman and ArianeSpace.įor the telescope to fit into the rocket, it must fold up. After launching from French Guiana, the observatory will travel to an orbit about one million miles away from Earth and undergo six months of commissioning. Webb’s enormous size and frigid operating temperature present extraordinary engineering challenges. Webb is NASA's largest and most powerful space science telescope ever constructed. Launch campaign preparation and launch campaign. Interactively explore Webb's deployments on this page.
#James webb telescope orbit plus
Payload Adapter, comprising the Cone 3936 plus ACU 2624 lower cylinder and clamp-band, which provides the separating mechanical and electrical interface between the Webb Observatory and the Launch Vehicle.ģ. Provided in the single launch configuration, with a long payload fairing providing a maximum 4.57 meter static diameter and useable length of 16.19 meters.Ģ. Launch Vehicle: an Ariane 5 with the cryogenic upper stage. The Launch Segment has 3 primary components:ġ. The surface of the Earth at the equator is moving at 1670 km/hr.
![james webb telescope orbit james webb telescope orbit](https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/files/97976978/97976979/1/1596073035306/JWSTorbit.jpg)
It is beneficial for launch sites to be located near the equator - the spin of the Earth can help give an additional push. Webb was launched from Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex at Europe's Spaceport located near Kourou, French Guiana. Read more about why the Ariane 5 was chosen. The Ariane 5 is one of the world's most reliable launch vehicles and was chosen for a combination of reliability (it was the only launch vehicle that met NASA's requirements for launching a mission like Webb) and for the value it brings via our international partnership. The launch vehicle and launch site are part of the European Space Agency's contribution to the mission. The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket. Webb was launched on an ArianeSpace Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle on December 25, 2021.