In preparation for the launch of the mission, the ground crews successfully carried out the refueling stage of the James Webb Space Telescope. This fuel will be used to control it during the space mission.
JWST was equipped with 12 rocket propellers, using hydrazine or special fuel a mixture of hydrazine fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidant. For safe refueling, Webb was transported to the Ariane cargo preparation facility at the European spaceport in French Guiana. The procedure began on November 25 and lasted 10 days.
The state-of-the-art space telescope, built by Northrop Grumman, has now been filled 168 kg of hydrazine fuel and 133 kg of dinitrogen tetroxide. Both the fuel and the oxidizer will be used in large “ignitions” and will be used to bring the telescope into L2 orbit. On the other hand, hydrazine itself will be used for small “ignitions” – minimal flight corrections at an angle.
The refueling system was officially disconnected on December 3, followed by inspections that ended on December 11.
The next stage will be the transfer of JWST to the final assembly building i placing a telescope on top of the rocket. The rocket and its cargo will be transported to the launch site two days before the scheduled take-off. Everything indicates that the most advanced and anticipated astronomical instrument will finally be launched into orbit.
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