overview

Launch date
December 25, 2021
Payload(s)
James Webb Space Telescope
Customer(s)
European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, Canada (CSA)
Prime contractor(s)
Northrop Grumman
Launch vehicle
Ariane 5
Launch site
Spaceport, French Guiana (Guiana Space Center)
Orbit
Transfer orbit to Lagrange 2 point
Status
Success

mission
description

Arianespace’s fourteenth launch of 2021 with the third Ariane 5 of the year will place Webb Space Telescope in a transfer orbit to Lagrange 2 point. The launcher will be carrying a total payload of maximum 6,173 kg.

The launch will be performed in Kourou, French Guiana.

Between 07:20 am and 07:52 am
Washington, D.C.
Between 09:20 am and 09:52 am
Kourou
Between 12:20 pm and 12:52 pm
Universal time (UTC)
Between 01:20 pm and 01:52 pm
Paris
Between 09:20 pm and 09:52 pm
Tokyo

Payload

Webb Space Telescope

THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL SPACE SCIENCE TELESCOPE

Intended as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE was funded by three space agencies: the United States (NASA), Europe (ESA) and Canada (CSA). The telescope will be 100 times more powerful, and will incorporate improved and different technologies to capture 70% more light. Because of these improvements, astronomers will be able to make unprecedented observations that show the first stars and galaxies to be formed after the Big Bang.

After a journey lasting 29 days, the most powerful space telescope ever built will be placed into orbit around the Lagrange 2 point so that it can observe galaxies, planets, stars and even nebulae and help us to unravel the secrets of the Universe.

The journey of the telescope in detail:

  • On the third day, the heat shield will begin to deploy. On the eleventh day, the secondary mirror will begin positioning.
  • Between the 13th and 14th day, the primary mirror, comprising 18 hexagonal segments and measuring 6.5 meters in diameter, will be assembled.
  • The telescope is slated to arrive at its final destination, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, approximately 29 days after launch.

 

  • Webb will be the 62nd mission (85th satellite) to be launched by Arianespace for ESA,
  • Webb will be the 28th scientific mission to be launched by Arianespace (35th satellite).

 

DID YOU KNOW ?

Several new technologies were developed during the building of the Webb telescope, including innovative spinoffs that have already improved life here on Earth, such as advances in eye surgery.