Very soon, humanity will be able to see the deepest images in the universe that have ever been captured. In two weeks, the $ 10 billion James Webb (JWST) space telescope, the optical image of NASA’s super expensive and super powerful deep space, will launch its first full-color images and today the agency officials suggested it could be just the beginning.
“This is further away than humanity has ever looked at,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said during a media conference Wednesday (he was calling because he had tested positive for COVID-19 the night before). “We’re just beginning to understand what Webb can and will do.”
NASA launched James Webb last December; since then, it has been carrying out a specialized start-up process that involves delicately adjusting 18 of its huge mirror segments. A few months ago, NASA shared a “selfie” that marked the success of the operations of the IR camera and the primary mirrors. Earlier this month, the agency said the first images from the telescope will be ready for public debut at 10:30 a.m. ET on July 12th.
One aspect of the universe that JWST will reveal are the exoplanets, or planets outside our Solar System, specifically their atmospheres. This is key to understanding whether there are other planets similar to ours in the universe, or whether life can be found on planets in atmospheric conditions different from those found on Earth. And Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Scientific Mission Directorate, confirmed that images of the atmospheric spectrum of an exoplanet will be shared with the public on July 12th.
Essentially, James Webb’s extraordinary ability to capture the infrared spectrum means he will be able to detect small molecules such as carbon dioxide. This will allow scientists to really examine whether and how atmospheric compositions shape the ability of life to emerge and develop on a planet.
NASA officials also shared better news: the agency’s estimates of the telescope’s excess fuel capacity were accurate and JWST will be able to capture images from space for about 20 years.
“These 20 years will not only allow us to delve deeper into history and time, but we will delve deeper into science because we will have the opportunity to learn and grow and make new observations,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.
JWST has not had an easy journey into deep space. The whole project came very close to not happening at all, Nelson said, after it began to run out of money and Congress considered canceling it out completely. He also suffered numerous delays due to technical issues. Then, when he arrived in space, a micrometeoroid pinged him quickly, an event that surely shook all NASA officials.
But overall, “it’s been an incredible six months,” confirmed Webb project director Bill Ochs.