This alignment protects the telescope from the heat released by the sun, Earth and even the moon. Webb's orbit will keep the telescope in line with Earth as our planet orbits the sun. While the Hubble Space Telescope orbits Earth, Webb will actually orbit the sun. NASA is set to launch a $10 billion space telescope named in honor of a Granville county native into space.Ī solar orbit that protects Webb from its heat "Just like the ball, Webb is slowing down, and, if we allowed it, would eventually stop and fall back towards Earth." "Think about throwing a ball straight up in the air, as hard as you can it starts out very fast, but slows down as gravity pulls it back towards Earth, eventually stopping at its peak and then returning to the ground," said Karen Richon, Webb Flight Dynamics lead engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in a statement. And I can't wait to see Webb's first new views of the universe this summer!"Īlthough it doesn't sound like, it would take almost a month for the telescope to reach orbit, Webb is unique. We're one step closer to uncovering the mysteries of the universe. "Congratulations to the team for all of their hard work ensuring Webb's safe arrival at L2 today. "Webb, welcome home!" said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a statement. The space observatory experienced its final burn on Monday to enter this orbit called L2. The telescope's point of observation is nearly a million miles away from Earth and beyond the moon itself. NASA's first astronauts, including moon walkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, trained at UNC's Morehead Planetarium
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |