The James Webb Space Telescope is fully deployed. So what's next for the biggest observatory off Earth?

[Admin]

Work for the James Webb Space Telescope is just beginning after was successfully deployed on Jan. 8.

The James Webb Space Telescope is fully deployed. So what's next for the biggest observatory off Earth? : Read more

 

[Scott's Astrophotos]

Will they have to wait till James Webb gets to L2 before they start aligning the mirrors?

 

[billslugg]

No, the mirror adjustment screws (7 on each mirror) are apparently screwed all the way down so the mirrors are against stops. This would be to be able to handle the g forces from launching. They must all be unscrewed to the 1/2 inch point, then fine tuned. This would give each mirror the ability to move 1/2 inch up or down I suppose. This assumes a 1 inch range of travel. The mirror actuators move "as fast as grass grows" so it should take a few weeks to get them roughed into place. This could be done while it travels to L2 and does some more cooling down. Then there are a few months of tweaking I believe. This could be done with red light, which does not need the cool down.