Publishing the web space telescope secondary mirror. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab
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Today, Webb teams successfully deployed the observatory’s secondary mirror support structure. When light from the distant universe hits Webb’s 18-karat gold primary mirrors, it bounces off and hits a smaller secondary mirror 2.4 feet (74 meters) in diameter, which will direct the light to his instruments. The secondary mirror is supported by three lightweight, detachable brackets, each approximately 25 feet long and designed to withstand the spatial environment. Specialized heating systems were used to heat the connections and actuators necessary for their proper functioning.
“Another important day for JWST,” said Bill Ochs, Webb Project Manager at
Deployment began around 9:52 am EST, and the secondary mirror finished moving to its extended location around 11:28 am EDT. The secondary mirror support structure closed at approximately 11:51 am EDT. At approximately 12:23 pm EDT, engineers confirmed that the hull was fully secured and locked in place and deployment was complete.
“The world’s most advanced tripod has been deployed,” said Lee Feinberg, element manager for Goddard’s Webb Optical Telescope. “That’s really how you can think. Webb’s secondary mirror had to propagate in microgravity, at extremely low temperatures, and eventually had to run error-free for the first time. It also had to propagate, stabilize, and stabilize.” withstand about a millimeter and a half, after which it must remain very stable while the telescope points at different places in the sky – and that is for a secondary mirror of the support structure that is over 7 meters long. “
Next Webb will deploy an important radiator system known as the Rear Deployment Instrument Radiator (ADIR), which helps dissipate heat from your instruments and mirrors. Learn more about Webb’s publishing schedule Connected.
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