The James Web space binoculars are not yet fully operational with various tests and calibrations being performed by NASA. But the mission is already facing challenges after one of its mirror segments was hit by a micro meteorite.
Between 23-25 May, a micro meteorite hit the C3 segment. Although James Webb was designed to have resistance to collisions with objects in space, the micro meteorites that hit him were larger than the design parameters.
After the analysis is done, NASA is confident the damage it caused will not interfere with image -taking performance and continues its mission to send full images with spectroscopic data to be sent to Earth on July 12 as planned. James Webb is the largest space binocular ever sent by humans into space with a mirror the size of a tennis court.
With larger mirrors, more light can be captured to locate exoplanets, locate galaxies that are forming and detect the effects of the Bing Bang explosion. Additionally the sensor on the James Webb can detect light with a larger wavelength range allowing it to see farther into outer space.
The telescope project that was supposed to replace the Hubble telescope was delayed several times due to technological, technical issues, accidents, rockets and pandemics. The cost of developing projects involving NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Kanda Space Agency (CDA) has also jumped to $ 10 billion from the original estimate of $ 500 million.