The international James Webb Space Telescope has passed the final mission
analysis review for its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport
in French Guiana.
This major milestone, carried out with Arianespace, the Webb launch service
provider, confirms that Ariane 5, the Webb spacecraft, and the flight plan
are set for launch. It also specifically provides the final confirmation
that all aspects of the launch vehicle and spacecraft are fully compatible.
During launch, the spacecraft experiences a range of mechanical forces,
vibrations, temperature changes, and electromagnetic radiation. All
technical evaluations performed by Arianespace on the mission’s key aspects,
including the launch trajectory and payload separation, have shown positive
results.
“We are thrilled to have passed this important step towards the launch of
Webb and to have received the green light from Arianespace and NASA,” says
Peter Rumler, ESA Webb project manager.
Webb will be the largest, most powerful telescope ever launched into space.
As part of an international collaboration agreement, ESA is providing the
observatory’s launch service using the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Working with
partners, ESA was responsible for the development and qualification of
Ariane 5 adaptations for the Webb mission and for the procurement of the
launch service.
Ariane 5 will deliver the telescope directly into a precision transfer orbit
towards its destination, the second Lagrange point (L2). After separation
from the launcher, Webb will continue its four-week long journey to L2
alone. L2 is four times farther away than the Moon, 1.5 million km from
Earth in the direction away from the Sun.
Mission analysis experts at ESA helped to compute the launch window, a
complex issue because it involves ensuring that Webb can be inserted into
its target orbit and at the same time the Ariane 5 upper stage will safely
escape from Earth.
The telescope will observe the Universe in the near-infrared and
mid-infrared – at wavelengths longer than visible light. To do so, it
carries a suite of state-of-the-art cameras, spectrographs, and
coronagraphs.
ESA plays a crucial role in the Webb mission. Aside from procuring the
Ariane 5 launcher and launch services, ESA is contributing the NIRSpec
instrument and a 50% share of the MIRI instrument, as well as personnel to
support mission operations.
Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian
Space Agency (CSA). Webb’s partners are working towards the launch readiness
date of October 31, 2021. The precise launch date following 31 October
depends on the spaceport’s launch schedule and will be finalized closer to
the launch readiness date.