Leaks: James Webb Space Telescope Finally Launched!

[grarpamp]

Seems a bit unusual that apparently no one has published
or leaked the control plane docs for any [spy]sat, ever.
Same for the NSA's crypto jewels.



NASA's $10 Billion Webb Telescope Begins Million Mile Journey

Update (1040ET): The $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was
launched into space at 0720 ET without a hitch from the Guiana Space
Center near Kourou, French Guiana.

    We have LIFTOFF of the @NASAWebb Space Telescope!

    At 7:20am ET (12:20 UTC), the beginning of a new, exciting decade
of science climbed to the sky. Webb’s mission to #UnfoldTheUniverse
will change our understanding of space as we know it.
pic.twitter.com/Al8Wi5c0K6
    — NASA (@NASA) December 25, 2021

About 15 minutes into the flight, the JWST separated from the main
stage of the Ariane 5 rocket, where it was preparing for its
million-mile journey to the Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2).

    Here it is: humanity’s final look at @NASAWebb as it heads into
deep space to answer our biggest questions. Alone in the vastness of
space, Webb will soon begin an approximately two-week process to
deploy its antennas, mirrors, and sunshield. #UnfoldTheUniverse
pic.twitter.com/DErMXJhNQd
    — NASA (@NASA) December 25, 2021

Shortly after arriving into orbit, JWST deployed its solar array to
begin its 29-day journey to L2.

    #NASAWebb is safely in space with its solar array drawing power
from the Sun! Its reaction wheels will keep the spacecraft pointed in
the right direction so that its sunshield can protect the telescope
from radiation and heat: https://t.co/NZJ7sSJ8fX#UnfoldTheUniverse
pic.twitter.com/s4nfqvKJZD
    — NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) December 25, 2021

Webb is the successor to Hubble Space Telescope, which will use its
high-tech sensors to look more than 13 billion years into the past.

Once JWST arrives at L2, the scientific community may never look at
the universe the same.

* * *

Astronomers are getting the best Christmas gift in a very long time –
the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is headed to the launchpad on
Christmas morning, set to be the successor to the Hubble Space
Telescope.

"With JWST and its rocket securely on the pad, the team will run
electrical diagnostics to ensure all lights are green for launch,"
according to NASA. "Teams will power on the observatory while at the
launch pad to run one final aliveness test to ensure all systems have
power and are working before liftoff."

Santa and his reindeer will be headed to the North Pole when the
Ariane 5 rocket launches the JWST between 0720 ET to 0750 ET from the
Guiana Space Center near Kourou, French Guiana.

JWST will be catapulted to a gravitationally stable spot of about
930,000 miles from Earth, known as the Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2
(L2). From there, the complex space observatory will look deep into
the universe for signs of life. It will take 30 days to reach L2, and
the first images of deep space won't be collected until next year.

Astronomers have been waiting years for JWST's launch -- this could be
the best Christmas present ever for the scientific community if all
goes well during launch.

Watch the launch live right here on the NASA live stream: