[MUSIC]
>> A LONG TIME AGO ALL WE COULD
DO IS LOOK UP AT THE STARS AND
WONDER WHAT THEY WERE.
THEN WE LEARNED WITH THE HELP OF
TELESCOPES AND TECHNOLOGY TO
EXTEND OUR HUMAN SENSES FURTHER.
FURTHER THAN THOSE FIRST HUMANS
COULD IMAGINE.
BUT WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE END
YET.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE WONDERS
OUT THERE AND WE KNOW THERE IS
FURTHER TO SEE.
IF WE SEEK NEW VIEWS OF OUR
UNIVERSE, HUMANITY NEEDS FRESH
EYES TO SEE THE UNIVERSE IN A
WAY WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE.
WELCOME TO GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT
CENTER.
I'M MICHELLE THALLER.
IN A FEW WEEKS, WE'LL RELEASE
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE.
THE LARGEST AND OH MOST
AMBITIOUS OBSERVATORY LAUNCHED
INTO SPACE.
WHILE THE PROMISE OF WEBB TO
EXPAND OUR UNIVERSITY, THE
MARVEL OF WEBB IS SOMETHING OF
ITSELF.
HERE WE HAVE ERIC SMITH.
>> HI, MICHELLE.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
WEBB AND HOW IT FITS IN.
>> SURE, WELL, TO CONTINUE THE
STORY OF HOW TELESCOPES AND
TECHNOLOGY CHANGE OUR VIEW OF
THE UNIVERSE, I'M GOING TO START
IN THE 18 40'S WITH A TELESCOPE
KNOWN AS OH LIVAIATHO PARSONS
TOWN.
THIS WAS USED TO STUDY NEBULA,
AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN
HERE IS A DRAWING OF WHAT WE NOW
KNOW IS A GALAXY.
THIS WAS MADE BY WILLIAM PARSONS
BACK IN 1845.
NOW, IF WE FAST FORWARD ABOUT 70
YEARS, THE WORLD HAS A NEW
LARGEST TELESCOPE.
IT WAS 100-INCH BY MATT WILSON,
AND HE USED THIS TELESCOPE TO
STUDY THESE GALAXIES.
BY THEN WE KNOW THEY'RE
GALAXIES.
AND WHAT HE FOUND WAS THAT THE
FURTHER AWAY THE GALAXY, THE
FARTHER IT WAS MOVING.
HE WAS EXPLAINING THE TELESCOPE
THAT HE HAS.
YOU CAN TRACE THE ARC OF A LOT
OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE AND
ASTRONOMY OF THE 20TH CENTURY OF
MORE OR LESS A CHASE OF GALAXIES
SEEKING AN EVER-FURTHER GALAXY
TRYING TO FIND THE VERY FIRST
GALAXIES.
WELL, IF WE MOVE TO THE END OF
THE 20TH CENTURY, WE DEPLOY THE
MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPE WE'VE
EVER HAD, THE HUBBLE SPACE
TELESCOPE, AND IT, TOO, ATTEMPTS
TO FIND THESE GALAXIES.
YOU SEE A COMPARISON OF 1840 TO
HUBBLE'S VIEW OF THE N-51
GALAXY.
HUBBLE TRIES TO FIND THESE FIRST
GALAXIES AND IT CAN'T.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO FIND A NEW
TELESCOPE.
NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP US
COMPLETE THIS CHASE OF GALAXIES
BUT IT PROMISES TO ALLOW US TO
EXPLORE THE ATMOSPHERE,
EXOPLANETS AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT
THIS AMAZING TELESCOPE AND THE
INSTRUMENTS THAT MAKE IT ALL
POSSIBLE.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> AS WE TALK ABOUT THE
INSTRUMENTS WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT THIS AMAZING GIANT MIRROR.
THERE IS NOBODY BETTER TO SPEAK
TO US ABOUT THAT THAN LEE
FEINBERG.
LEE, TELL US ABOUT THE
INCREDIBLE MIRRORS OF THESE
INCREDIBLE INSTRUMENTS WE'LL
USE.
>> AT SIX AND A HALF METERS IT
WAS TOO BIG TO FIT IN A ROCKET.
WE DESIGNED IT SO THAT IT WOULD
UNFOLD IN SPACE.
IT DOES IT LIKE A DROP-LEAF
TABLE.
AND TO DO THAT WE NEEDED THE
MIRRORS TO BE IN SEGMENTS.
ALL 16 MIRRORS HAVE THE SAME
MECHANICAL DESIGN, AND THEY'RE
MADE OUT OF BERYLLIUM.
AND BERYLLIUM IS IDEAL FOR THESE
COLD TEMPERATURES.
AND WE COOKED THEM IN GOLD.
GOLD IS GOOD FOR THE HIGH
REFLECTION AND CAPTURE ALL THE
PHOTONS.
>> THAT WILL BE WONDERFUL.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THE MIRROR
BEFORE WE GO?
>> THE MIRROR ON WEBB IS
ACTUALLY MUCH LARGER THAN
PREVIOUS SPACE TELESCOPES.
IN FACT, IT'S LIGHTER AS WELL.
THE PRIMARY MIRROR FOR THE
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE IS 20
TIMES HEIFERRER.
IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE SPITZER
SPACE TELESCOPE WHICH NASA
LAUNCHED YEARS AGO, IT WORKS AT
SHORTER WAVELENGTHS THAN THE
SPITZER WORKS AT, AND ALMOST TO
THE WAVELENGTH THAT HUBBLE WORKS
AT.
>> WE'LL SEE YOU FOR QUESTIONS
LATER ON.
>> OKAY.
>> THE NEXT PERSON WHO WILL BE
JOINING US IS MARCIA RIEKE.
SPES' SPEAKING TO US FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.
MARCIA, ARE YOU JOINING US?
>> I'M HERE AND VERY HAPPY TO
TALK ABOUT NIRCam.
OKAY.
NIRCam IS A DUAL-PURPOSE
INSTRUMENT.
AS LEE MENTIONED, THE TELESCOPE
MIRROR COMES IN 18 SEGMENTS AND
THEY HAVE TO BE ALIGNED.
SO YOU CAN SEE NIRCam IS ALSO
DUAL IN THE SENSE OF HOW IT WAS
CONSTRUCTED.
IT HAS TWO IDENTICAL HALVES
BOTTLED TOGETHER.
THAT GIVES US THE REDUNDANCY SO
THAT NIRCam CAN ALWAYS ALIGN
THOSE MIRROR SEGMENTS.
THIS IS A BIG ADVANTAGE FOR DEEP
SURVEYS BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT
TWICE THE SKY.
AND WHAT YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO
SEE IS LIGHT SENSOR PACKAGE HERE
ON CAMPUS WHERE WE GAVE IT IT'S
FINAL RUN THROUGH.
IT HAS 16 MEGA PIXELS, WHICH IS
A LOT OF PIXELS FOR SITTING A
MILLION MILES AWAY FROM EARTH.
YOU MIGHT ASK WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO WITH ALL THOSE PIXELS?
WE HAVE SEVERAL VERY BIG SCIENCE
PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PART
OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE
TELESCOPE WAS TO LOOK FOR THE
VERY FIRST GALAXIES TO FORM
AFTER THE BIG BANG.
WE KNOW AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE
BIG DIPPER, AND WE'RE GOING TO
ZOOM IN TO THE KIND OF IMAGE
THAT HUBBLE TOOK AS BEST AS IT
CAN DO ON THESE VERY DISTANT,
VERY RED OBJECTS.
AND SHORTLY A RED BLOB WILL
APPEAR.
WE'RE SEEING THE LIGHT FROM THIS
GALAXY AS IT LEFT 400 MILLION
YEARS AFTER THE BIG BANG, ABOUT
3% THE AGE OF THE UNIVERSE.
THIS PARTICULAR GALAXY IS
EXTREMELY BRIGHT.
WE HOPE HE CAN GET EVEN CLOSER
IN TIME TO THE BIG GANG THAN
WHAT THIS GALAXY IS.
NOW LOOKING FOR DISTANT GALAXIES
IS NOT THE ONLY SCIENCE THAT
NIRCam CAN DO.
IT CAN BE USED FOR MANY
PROJECTS, INCLUDING LOOKING AT
THE ATMOSPHERES OF PLANETS
ORBITING OTHER STARS,
EXOPLANETS.
THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT
IS BY USING THE TRANSIT
TECHNIQUE.
WE'LL OBSERVE A STAR.
THE PLANET WILL PASS IN FRONT OF
IT, AND THE LIGHT FROM THE STAR
WILL BE DIMMED FOR A LITTLE
WHILE.
IF WE ANALYZE HOW THAT LIGHT
GETS DIM AND WHAT COLORS WHY OF
WEATHER RUMPLE WE'LL SEE WHAT
KIND OF MOLECULES ARE IN THAT
ATMOSPHERE.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
OBSERVE THE PLANETS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CAPABILITY TOO
LOOK AT THEM TALENT WITH WITH
ORDINARILY YOU CAN'T SEE THESE
PLANETS.
HERE IS A HYPOTHETICAL ROCKET
SHIP GOING THROUGH THIS EXOSOLAR
SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY THERE YOU
CAN SEE THE PLANET.
BUT IF YOU MOVE FAR AWAY LIKE
OUR VANTAGE POINT WITH WEBB,
THAT PLANET GETS LOST IN THE
GLARE OF THE SUN, AND YOU HAVE
TO BLOT OUT THE STARLIGHT USING
A CORONA GRAPH.
THAT'S JUST A QUICK SAMPLER OF
THINGS WE'LL DO WITH NIRCam.
>> NOW, IT IS NOT JUST AN
IMAGING CAMERA, BUT IT HAS A LOT
TO DO WITH SPECTRA AS WELL.
WE'LL GO TO PIERRE FERRUIT WHO
CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS
SPECK TOGRAPHY.
>> ( L" ).
>> THIS IS A SPECTROGRAPH, AND
THE WE USE SPECTROGRAPH WORKS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, IT
CREATES WHAT WE CALL A SPECTRUM.
HOW IT IS MADE, AND IT'S A
FORMATION, BUT THIS IS GOING TO
PUT THE SCIENCE ALL AROUND THE
WORLD.
ALL THE INSTRUMENTS ARE USED FOR
MIRI.
IF WE TAKE A LITTLE RED BLOB
FROM THE VERY DISTANT GALAXY.
THEY'RE SO FAR AWAY, 13 BILLION
LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
SO TO OBSERVE THEM WE HAVE TO
STAY UP FOR HOURS.
THIS IS WHERE IT IS DESIGNED TO
OBSERVE 200 OF THEM AT THE SAME
TIME, NOT JUST ONE.
TO DO THAT, WE USE A VERY
SPECIAL DEVICE THAT YOU SEE ON
THE SCREEN.
IT IS CLOSE TO A QUARTER OF A
MILLION VERY TINY LITTLE DOORS
THAT YOU CAN OPEN AND CLOSE AT
WILL.
AND TO OBSERVE THE.
"P" OPEN THE DOORS IN FRONT OF
THESE OBJECTS, AND WE CAN GET
INDIVIDUAL FOR THESE OBJECTS.
CLOSE TO 200 AT ONCE.
THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.
WE CAN VIEW AN OBJECT AT THE
SAME TIME.
BUT SOMETIMES SCIENTISTS ARE NOT
INTERESTED IN GETTING PICTURES
FROM SEVERAL OBJECTS.
SOMETIMES THEY WANT PICTURES OF
JUST ONE OBJECT.
THEY CAN SLICE THE OBJECT INTO
20 SLICES.
YOU CAN SEE IT EACH OF THESE
WILL GIVE YOU 40 SPECTRUMS, AND
THEN FROM THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO
MAP THE STANDARD OBJECT LIKE THE
GALAXY.
NEXT WE'LL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW
OF WHAT THEIR PA WE'LL NEED VERY
NICE TOOLBOX FOR SCIENTISTS.
AND TO FOCUS ON THIS IMAGE.
WE ARE READY, AND WE'RE WAITING
TO START USING IT IN SPACE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PIERRE.
SO IN KEEPING WITH OUR THEME
THAT THIS IS A VERY
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
WE'RE NOW GOING TO CANADA.
FOR OUR LAST GUEST WE'LL SPEAK
WITH RENE DOYON, AND HE'S AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL.
RENE.
>> I'M VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.
I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU FINE
GUIDANCE SENSOR.
IF LOOKS AT THE SKY AND PICK UP
STARS.
WE TRACK HIS MOVEMENT WHILE
WESTCHESTER THERE ARE USUALLY
VIBRATIONS.
SO WHAT WE DO, WE SEND A
SIGNIFICANT INSIDE THE
OBSERVATORY.
AND WE CAN THAT WAY GET THE BEST
SHARPERS IMAGES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW
ACCURATE IT IT WILL GO ON TO THE
THICKNESS OF A HUMAN HAIR.
OR IF IT'S LIKE BEANS PUNCH FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
YOU HAVE TO WORK TO GET THE BEST
IMAGES.
ON THE BACKSIDE WE HAVE THE
SCIENTIFIC MODULE I CALL
NEAREST.
STUMP IT WILL USE IMAGES LIKE
NIRCam, AND THEN SPECTROGRAPHY
WILL LOOK AT THE SYSTEM.
HERE IS AN ANIMATION THAT
ILLUSTRATES THE TECHNIQUE.
LOOKING AT THE TINIEST SLIVER OF
LIGHT FROM THE ATMOSPHERE THAT
IS FILTERED BY THE STARLIGHT,
WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.
WE CAN DO THAT BY HUBBLE AND
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
THOSE PLANETS COULD HAVE LIFE.
SO THE BIG QUESTION, DO THESE
PLANETS HAVE AN ATMOSPHERE.
WE'RE SURE GOING TO BE LOOKING
FOR THOSE PLANETS AND SEE
WHETHER THEY HAVE WATER, C.
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND
MODE.
THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TAKES
SPECTROGRAPHY.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE STUDYING THE
GALAXY AND THE CLUSTERS, BUT WE
KNOW THAT THE CLUSTERS HID IN
DARK MATTER.
THAT CLUSTER WILL ACTED LIKE A
GIGANTIC COSMIC TELESCOPE, AND
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
DISTALK PUBLIC NOW, THIS IS NOT
AS EFFICIENT, BUT IN ONE SHOT IT
WILL TAKE 3,000 GALAXIES 20
TIMES WHAT NIRSpec CAN DO.
THEY ARE VERY HIGH-DISTANCE
OBJECTS.
AND THEN APERTURE MASKS SPECT
ROGRAPHY.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DETECT WELL THE
DARK SPOT THAT MARCIA WAS
EXPLAINING.
WE'LL BE AGE TO.
WHERE WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THAT
UP IN THE SKY AND WE CAN'T WAIT
FOR LAUNCH.
>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY TO
GET READY FOR THE LAUNCH BUT IT
PALES WHAT LAYS AHEAD.
IT NEEDS TO TRAVEL A MILLION
MILES AWAY FROM EARTH BEFORE IT
EXAMINE BEGIN ITS QUEST FOR
ANCIENT LIGHT.
IT IS LOCATED IN KOUROU, FRENCH
GUIANA.
IT IS A GATEWAY TO THE STARS.
FEW PLACES ON EARTH HAS SOUND
SCAPES THAT INCLUDE THE ROAR OF
ROCKETS FOLLOWED BY TROPICAL
JUNGLE.
ONCE AT THE INSTITUTE IT IS HERE
THEY WILL CONTROL THE SPACECRAFT
BUT GATHER DATA FROM THE
TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK
BREAK.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL TAKE
LIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF YOUR
OWN, YOU CAN USE #NASA WEB.
WE'LL BE BACK TO TALK TO THIS
EXTRAORDINARY PANEL OF
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ABOUT
THE INNER WORKING OF THE
TELESCOPE.
>> IN NASA'S PODCAST, NASA IS
YOUR TOUR GUIDE.
JOIN WITH.
IN.
>> MEET THE EXPERT BEHIND THE
JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE.
VISIT NASA.GOV /PODCAST.
>> WHAT IS OUT THERE?
LET'S FIND OUT.
THE JAMES WEBB.
>> WHOA.
>> CHECK OUT THE MOST
EXTRAORDINARY INSTRUMENT EVER
DESIGNED.
ONLY BY NASA.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE JAMES
WEBB TELESCOPE PRE-LAUNCH
BRIEFING.
I'M MICHELLE THALLER, AND WE'RE
HERE AT GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT
CENTER.
WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA.
AND SO AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO
ASK THE OPERATOR DO WE HAVE
FIRST QUESTIONS FOR OUR
PANELIST.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
IT IS STAR FOLLOWED BY NUMBER 1.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, UNMUTE
YOUR LINE AND ASK YOUR QUESTION
AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM BILL
HARWOOD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN YOU PRESCRIBE SOME DEMA I'M
INTERESTED IN HOW YOU'LL USE
NIRCam AND HOW THE POSITION
ACTUATORS WORK, AND HOW IT CAN
CHANGE THE SEGMENT SLIGHTLY IF
NECESSARY AND HOW THAT PROCESS
WORKS OUT TO BRING THOSE 18
INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS BACK TO
THE LIMITED IMAGE.
>> SURE, WHEN WE FIRST START,
THEY'RE HIGHLY MISALIGNED.
THEY SHARE A SECONDARY MIRROR
BUT THEY'LL GET 18 IMAGES OF A
STAR WHEN WE LOOK AT ONE BRIGHT
STAR.
SO OUR GOAL WILL BE FIRST TO
ALIGN THOSE INDIVIDUAL
TELESCOPES AND THEN PUT THEM ON
TOP OF EACH OTHER.
WE'LL PUT THEM RIGHT ON TOP OF
EACH OTHER.
BUT EACH OF THE TELESCOPES ARE
NOT PHASED UP.
BY PHASING I MEAN WE HAVE TO I
AM RUFFLE IT IS ALIGNED AS
THOUGH IT IS 5,000TH OF A
DIAMETER OF A HUMAN HAIR.
WE MOVE THE MIRRORS AROUND, BUT
AS WE GET TO THE END OF THESE
ALGORITHMS WE BORROW ONE FROM
THE SCOPE THAT GETS US WITHIN A
WAVELENGTH OF LIGHT.
THEN AT THE VERY END WE'LL USE
ANNAL GORE RHYTHMMENT WHEN THEY
WERE TRYING TO DESCRIBE THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL AND 120 DAYS IN
WE SHOULD HAVE AN ALIGNED
TELESCOPE.
>> WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS FROM
SOCIAL MEDIA.
THIS IS GOING TO NIRCam.
THE QUESTION IS HOW CLEAR WILL
WEBB'S PICTURES OF MARS BE?
IS.
[.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT IN PART.
ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IS
THAT MARS IS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY
BRIGHT IN THE INFRARED.
WHEN THEM AND THE COMPLICATION
IS THAT MARS ROTATES WHILE WE'RE
TAKING A PICTURE.
BUT SOME SCHEMES HAVE BEEN
WORKED OUT, AND I THINK WHEN WE
GET TO THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM,
PLANETS IN THE FLY BYES, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO TRACE OUT THE THINGS
LIKE METHANE.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT MARS,
BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT
BECAUSE OF HOW BRIGHT AND HOW
QUICKLY IT ROTATES.
>> ALL RIGHT, AS FAR AS MORE
QUESTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
I GUESS THIS IS ONE THAT WE
COULD HAVE IS THERE IS
POSSIBILITY TO SEE THE OMUAMUA,
A COMET THAT WE BELIEVE CAME
FROM ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM.
CAN ANYONE ANSWER THE QUESTION
ABOUT INTERSOLAR SYSTEM COMETS?
>> I THINK--I DON'T KNOW IF WE
KNOW ITS ORBIT WELL ENOUGH TO BE
ABLE TO POINT TO IT IN SPACE.
IT SPENT SUCH A SHORT TIME IN
THE SOLAR SYSTEM, IT WHIZZED BY.
IF WE KNOW IT WELL ENOUGH TO
POINT AT IT BY WEBB I'M NOT
SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, THE NEXT QUESTION I BELIEVE,
WE HAVE FROM THE MUFFLE NHL.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
IRENE, YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT
IMAGING THESE EARLIEST
STRUCTURES AFTER THE BIG BANG.
.OFFER IS IT BASED ON
GRAVITATIONAL LENSING OR IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT NAMESLESS.
>> ERIC, WOULD YOU LIKE--
>> MARCIA, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO IMAGE
THESE VERY DISTANT GALAXIES
DIRECTLY WITHOUT THE HELP OF
GRAVITATIONAL LENSING.
THERE PREVIEW APPROVAL LIKE THE
ONE I SHOWED IN THE VIDEO CAMERA
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT.
BUT THE VIRTUE OF SATISFY
FACINGNAL LIPPING WESTCHESTER E
WHATEVER WE SEE DIRECTLY WITH
NIRCam WE CAN GO AFTER WHAT IS
USE APPROXIMATING ANNA NICOLE
STRAIGHTFORWARD IMAGING ON A
BLANK PIECE OF SKY WITH
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
GRAVITATIONALLY LENSED.
>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING
TO THAT?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT
MARCIA SAID.
WE'LL DO BOTH THINGS WITH WEBB.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE
NEWS MEDIA.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> ( L" )
>> THIS I THINK IS FOR MARCIA.
HOW WILL THE IMAGES FROM THIS
INFRARED TELESCOPE COMPARE TO
WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING FROM
HUBBLE.
I REALIZE YOU'VE BEEN ASKED THIS
A MILLION TIMES.
I'M JUST ASKING IT ONE MORE.
THANKS.
>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL
OF DETAIL THAT WE CAN SEE, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO SEE AS FINE A DETAIL
AS HUBBLE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE
WORKING IT AT A MUCH LONGER
WAVELENGTH.
BUT WHAT WILL BE DRAMATICALLY
DIFFERENT IS USING THE INFRARED,
WE SEE THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMAGE
FROM HUBBLE, NOBODY IF YOU HACK
BE A SIMILAR PICTURE THROUGH
NIRCam, YOU'LL SEE THE DUST
WILL BASICALLY DISAPPEAR AND
YOU'LL SEE STARS AND IF YOU GO A
STEP LONGER, THE DUST THAT BLOTS
OUT THE STARS IN THE HUBBLE
PICTURE WILL BE VISIBLE AS
BLIGHT EMISSION.
THE MIRROR IMAGE WILL HAVE AS
MUCH DETAIL BUT A VERY DIFFERENT
CHARACTER.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
THIS ONE IS A SPECTROGRAPHY
QUESTION.
THIS WILL GO TO PIERRE.
ARE THERE ELEMENTS WE'RE LOOKING
FOR AT EXPO PLANETS.
WILL THIS HELP TO LOOK AT
CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN THE SPECTRA.
>> YES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WATER, CARBON MONOXIDE, METHANE.
SO YES, THERE IS A LONG LIST OF
MOLECULES THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING
FOR AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS COMPOSITION OF THE AT
MOSS FIERCE.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
PLANETS HABITABLE ZONE, AND
WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR WATER AND
TO UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS
THERE.
IF LIFE IS POSSIBLE ON THE
PLANET.
THAT IS QUITE A QUESTION,
ACTUALLY.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD, DEPICTING
THE WATER AND THE OZONE
MOLECULE.
THAT IS AN EXCITING MOLECULE TO
BE LOOKING FOR.
>> WILL JWST LOOKING FOR THE
EXOPLANET.
ARE THERE PLANS TO OBSERVE THAT?
>> THERE ARE PLANS AND PROPOSALS
TO LOOK AT THIS PLANET.
IF IT IS LIKE MARS, THIS IS A
VERY BRIGHT TARGET.
WE KNOW THAT THE PROXIMATELY
THAT IT IS A TRANNISTING STAR.
ONE WAY BY DOING THAT IS LOOKING
AT THE THERMAL COMPONENT OF THE
PLANET, AND IT WILL LIKELY BE
OBSERVED YES.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
THE MEDIA COMING IN.
OPERATOR, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, AND AGAIN ONCE
AGAIN PLEASE PRESS STAR AND THEN
1.
>> THIS IS NUMBER THREE FOR ME.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET
LOGGED IN TO THIS CAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REPORTERS
HAVE THE PATIENCE TO STAY ON THE
LINE.
BUT MY QUESTION FOR LEE AGAIN,
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE WALK
PATH AND HOW THAT BOX WITH
EMPHASIS ON THE STEERING MIRROR,
WHERE THAT IS ON THE PATH AND
HOW YOU USE IT TO KEEP WEBB SO
PROPERLY POSITIONED.
>> WEBB IS A THREE MIRROR THAT
FORM THE TELESCOPE.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAT PEOPLE
ARE USED TO.
HUBBLE IS A TWO-MIRROR SYSTEM.
WE WENT WITH THE THREE MIRRORS
TO GET THIS SENDS THE LIGHT TO
THE FINE STEERING MIRROR.
AND BEHIND IT ARE ACTUATORS, AND
THEY POINT IS THAT FINE STEERING
MIRROR, AND THEY WORK IN TANDEM
WITH THE GUIDER THAT RENE HAD
TALKED ABOUT IT.
THAT FINE STEERING MIRROR WILL
KEEP US POINTED AND THAT IMAGE
LOOKING VERY CRISP.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION COMING IN
ABOUT GOLD.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY THE
TELESCOPES ARE COATED WITH GOLD.
>> YES, I KNOW IT DOESN'T LOOK
GOOD, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE
REASON FOR SELECTING THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WE HAVE
LENGTH OF.
IT GOES UP TO 28 MICRONS, THAT'S
THE WAVELENGTHS AND THEN IT'S A
VERY LONG WAVELENGTH RANGE AND
WE WANTED A MATERIAL THAT WOULD
REFLECT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
PHOTONS.
IF YOU PICK A MATERIAL THAT
DOESN'T DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT,
IT'S REALLY LIKE A USING A
TELESCOPE.
AND IT TURNS OUT GOLD HAS AN
AMAZING REFLECTIVITY.
IT'S 98% REFLECTIVE.
SO WE WANTED TO GET AS MUCH
THREW-PUT AS WE COULD.
>> GOING BACK TO THE SOCIAL
MEDIA QUESTIONS.
THERE IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT WE
NEED TO TALK MORE.
WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE TO
OBSERVING IN NEAR-INFRARED AND
MID INFRARED?
>> USUALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT
OBJECTS, WHEN WE LOOK AT
DIFFERENT OPPOSITE FALL WE WILL
SEE THE OBJECTS IN A DIFFERENT
WAY.
WE CAN SEE AND MARCIA WAS
TALKING ABOUT WITH THE INFRARED
WE GO FORWARD WITH THE DUST AND
WHAT IS BEHIND THE DUST.
BUT WHEN GO TO MID, IT IS
INTERESTING TO USE MIRI FOR THE
MID-INFRARED.
THE VERY DISTANCE GASSES.
THEY'RE AND THEN THE IMMEDIATE,
AND ONLY MIRI WILL SEE LIGHT.
THE EXISTING POPULATION OF STARS
AND THE ORDER OF POPULATION OF
STARS IN THIS GALAXY.
THESE ARE THINS THAT YOU COULD
ONLY SEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOING BACK TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE ONE FROM JONATHAN OF THE
BBC.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL YOU BE
ABLE TO SEE IN EUROPA.
ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR THE SIGNS
OF LIFE.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE NEAR
EUROPA?
>> I'LL JUST SAY AS A PREFACE
FOR THAT, WEBB LOOKS AT THINGS
THAT PRE-POSED BY THE SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY.
EACH YEAR WE PUT IN A
COMPETITION AND PEOPLE PUT IN
WHAT THEY THINK ARE THE BEST
IDEAS TO LOOK FOR.WE WILL LOOK
AT THOSE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT
NOBODY THOSE SET OF PLUMES.
IF WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THAT
FIRST YEAR, WE'LL PROBABLY DO IT
IN THE SECOND YEAR BECAUSE THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS
COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND
THEY GET TO PROPOSE.
>> ONCE AGAIN THIS IS A QUESTION
ABOUT THE SCHEDULING.
THIS IS NOT A TELESCOPE THAT YOU
OPEN UP AND IT IMMEDIATELY
WORKS.
CAN YOU GIVE US THE TIME FRAME
WHEN THAT WILL BE HAPPENING?
>> YES WELL, THE REASON WHY WE
CAN'T GET THINGS DONE FASTER IS
THAT WE'RE.
>> NIRCam WILL BE SENSITIVE A
LITTLE AFTER 30 DAYS AND THE
GUIDER A LITTLE BIT AFTER THAT.
SO WE'LL BE USING THE GUIDER AND
THE NIRCam INSTRUMENT TO HELP
US WITH THE FOCUSING, BUT WE
CAN'T GET STARTED UNTIL THEY GET
COLD ENOUGH, THEN WE CAN'T ALIGN
THE TELESCOPE FOR A MONTH
BECAUSE WE NEED THE TELESCOPE SO
COLD THAT IT LOOKS ARE AL WE
SHOULD HAVE IS THE TELESCOPE
FULLY ALIGNED, AND WE'LL BE
HANDING IT OFF TO THE.
>> OUR QUESTION IS FROM IRENE.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> THANKS.
I WAS WONDERING IF THE FOUR
INSTRUMENTS CAN OPERATE
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
OR DO THEY--OR IS THAT NOT
POSSIBLE?
ALSO, IS THERE SOME TECHNICAL
REASON WHY THE NEAR-INFRARED
IMAGER WAS SELECTED TO BE THE
WAY FRONT CENTERING AWAY FROM
SERVICES OVER THE MID- INFRARED
HE OF YOU WANT TO USE THE
SHAPING OF THE MIRROR.
AND THE FIRST PART OF THE
QUESTION?
>> YES, IF THE FOUR INSTRUMENTS
CAN OPERATE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> YES, THEY CAN OPERATE
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
WE CALL THIS PARALLEL OBSERVING
WHERE YOU CAN OPERATE MORE THAN
ONE INSTRUMENT AT A TIME.
AND THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE
SKY FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
BUT THEY CAN OPERATE THEM AT THE
SAME TIME AND BRING THOSE DATA
PACK.
>> EXCELLENT.
ANYTHING TO ADD?
GOING ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION.
THIS ONE, I THINK IS GOING TO GO
TO RENE HOW FAST DOES THE
STEERING MIRROR HAVE TO MOVE?
HOW MANY ADJUSTS A NEXT WE NEED
TO USE THESE 16 TIMES A SECOND.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE SPEED
IS THAT THEY ARE.
MAYBE LEE CAN ANSWER TO THAT
ONE.
>> THE LOOP IS AT ABOUT SECOND
WE CLOSE THAT LOOP.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SLOW.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT FASTER, AND WE
ARE AVENUE AS THE SPACECRAFT
DRIFTS THERMALLY, SO THERE ARE
SLOW EFFECTS THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO AFFECT.
>> GIFT UNITED NATIONS LET'S SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY GETS COMING IN
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
HERE IS ONE.
HOW MUCH OF A WEB WILL BE ABLE
TRACK MAJOR SURFACE FEATURES.
>> I CAN TAKE THAT ONE.
IT IS GOING TO BE VERY
DIFFICULT, BUT IT HAS BEEN DONE
OVER THE HUBBLE FOR EXACT
ROTATION PERIODS AND EMITTING
WINDS IN THESE ATMOSPHERES.
WE THINK THAT WEBB WILL BE EVEN
MORE DIFFICULT.
BUT WE KNOW FROM PHYSICS THAT
THESE PLANETS THAT EVOLVE AROUND
THEIR STAR THEY'RE ALWAYS THE
SAME FACE TO THEIR STAR.
THEY'RE ROTATING WITHIN THE SAME
PERIOD AS THEIR ORBITAL PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE A QUESTION COMING IN ON
SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT CONSTRUCTING
THE MIRROR, ABOUT WHERE THIS
MATERIAL CAME FROM.
>> WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE
AN AMAZING STORY, AND IT REALLY
WAS A TEAM EFFORT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
IT CAME FROM UTAH.
THAT'S WHERE THE BERYLLIUM WAS
MINED.
AND BLOCKS OF THAT WAS MADE JUST
OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.
THEN THOSE BLOCKS WERE SENT TO
ALABAMA WHERE THEY WERE
MACHINED.
AND THERE WAS A LARGE MACHINE
SHOP THAT WE BUILT ESPECIALLY
JUST FOR THESE MIRRORS.
AFTER THEY WERE MACHINED, THAT
MEANS LIGHTWEIGHTING THEM, THE
MIRRORS WERE LARGE MIRRORS.
AND THEN THEY WERE SENT FOR
COATING OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA.
THEY MADE STOPS IN BOULDER,
COLORADO WHERE THEY WERE
ASSEMBLED, THEN THEY MADE A TRIP
TO MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
FOR TESTING.
WE NEEDED TO TEST THEM IN COLD
TEMPERATURES TO SEE HOW THEY
DEFORMED AND THEN SENT THEM BACK
FOR POLISHING AND MEASUREMENTS
AND THEN FINALLY THEY CAME HERE
TO GODDARD WHERE THEY WERE
ASSEMBLED.
>> A QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
AGAIN.
HOW MANY MORE REACTION WHEELS
DINED ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE.
ALSO HOW MANY REACTION WHEELS
ARE THERE?
MORE THAN THREE?
AND.
>> WELL, ON WEBB THEY'RE
DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT
WERE PUT ON KEFLER.
WE HAVE TEN YEARS WORTH OF FUEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR GUESTS
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS
WE COUNT DOWN TO THE AMAZING
LAUNCH.
I'M MICHELLE THALLER AT GODDARD
SPACE FLIGHT CENTER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
[MUSIC]