“Webb is an excellent example of worldwide team effort and cooperation. We invite Webb and our partners to Europes Spaceport in French Guiana to continue this experience towards an awesome liftoff on board Ariane 5 and to sharing the many Webb science developments to come!” commented Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation.
Dealing with partners, ESA was accountable for the advancement and credentials of Ariane 5 adjustments for the Webb objective and for the procurement of the launch service.
Webb is a global collaboration in between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
The James Webb Space Telescope has actually arrived securely at Pariacabo harbor in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace
Webb got here from California on board the MN Colibri which sailed the Panama Canal to French Guiana. The shallow Kourou river was specially dug up to ensure a clear passage and the vessel followed high tide to safely reach port.
Though the telescope weighs just six tonnes, it is more than 10.5 m high and practically 4.5 m broad when folded. It was shipped in its folded position in a 30 m long container which, with auxiliary devices, weighs more than 70 tonnes. This is such an exceptional objective that a heavy articulated vehicle was brought on board MN Colibri to thoroughly transport Webb to the Spaceport.
The Spaceports preparation facilities are prepared for Webbs arrival. As additional security from contamination, the clean spaces are fitted with extra walls of air filters and a devoted drape will shroud Webb after it is installed on the rocket.
James Webb Space Telescope folded after testing completed. Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
This launch campaign includes more than 100 professionals. Groups will work separately to prepare the launch and the telescope automobile until they turn into one combined team to join the telescope with its rocket for a memorable liftoff.
When Webb comes to the Spaceport, it will be unpacked inside a devoted spacecraft preparation center where it will be analyzed to ensure that it is undamaged from its voyage and in good working order.
In parallel to Webb preparations, Ariane 5 rocket parts from Europe will come together in the launch lorry combination structure.
Webb launch timeline. Credit: ESA
Europes effective and highly reliable heavy-lift workhorse has an exceptional track record spanning more than 100 launches and three years. Ariane 5s ample fairing, 5.4 m size and 17 m high, offers enough space for Webbs folded spacecraft elements, sunshield, and mirrors.
Ariane 5 is well suited for science satellites with tested capability to send objectives to the 2nd Lagrange Point (L2). Ariane 5 will release Webb straight on a path towards L2 on which it will continue for four weeks, eventually getting to L2 which is four times further away than the Moon is from Earth.
Webb and Ariane 5: a fit made perfect. Ariane 5 has been personalized to accommodate all the specific requirements of the Webb objective. Credit: ESA
A couple of personalized features make Ariane 5 a perfect suitable for Webb. These consist of the adjustment of venting ports at the base of the fairing which will be required fully open during the flight. The fairing– the rockets nose cone– will secure Webb from the acoustics at liftoff and throughout its journey through Earths atmosphere. Its venting ports will make it possible for incredibly smooth depressurization of the fairing from ground pressure to vacuum during the flight.
To prevent getting too hot of any aspects of Webb, Ariane 5 will carry out a specifically developed rolling maneuver to make sure that all parts of the satellite will be similarly exposed to the sun.
An extra battery will supply power for a boost to the upper phase after release of the telescope, securely distancing it from Webb.
Birds-eye view over Europes Spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana on July 28, 2021. Envisioned from delegated right, the Vega, Ariane 5 (foreground), and Ariane 6 (background right) launch zones at Europes Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Credit: ESA– S. Corvaja
Arianespace operates a family of rockets at Europes Spaceport: Ariane 5, Vega, and Soyuz. This launch website is surrounded by jungle and covers 690 km2. It is an ideal location for introducing rockets for a number of factors.
At just 5 degrees north of the equator, the rockets released here can benefit from the slingshot effect due to the speed of Earths rotation, increasing their performance as they currently travel at over 300 m/s when they raise off. An open ocean towards the east and north offers a large variety of possible launch trajectories away from inhabited locations.
Finally, this area has an extremely low danger of cyclones or earthquakes which is necessary when such delicate operations are occurring.
The James Webb Space Telescope, a once-in-a-generation area mission, showed up securely at Pariacabo harbor in French Guiana on October 12, 2021, ahead of its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europes Spaceport. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace
The James Webb Space Telescope has arrived securely at Pariacabo harbor in French Guiana. ESA in close cooperation with NASA will now prepare this once-in-a-generation mission for its launch on Ariane 5 from Europes Spaceport this December.
Few space science missions have actually been as excitedly anticipated as the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb). As the next terrific space science observatory following Hubble, Webb is developed to deal with unanswered questions about the Universe and see further into our origins: from the development of stars and planets to the birth of the very first galaxies in the early Universe.
Every launch requires meticulous planning and preparation. For Webb, this procedure began about 15 years back. Its arrival at Pariacabo harbor is a major turning point in the Ariane 5 launch project.
Webb and Ariane 5: a fit made best. Ariane 5 has actually been personalized to accommodate all the particular requirements of the Webb objective. A few tailored functions make Ariane 5 an ideal fit for Webb. The fairing– the rockets nose cone– will protect Webb from the acoustics at liftoff and during its journey through Earths atmosphere.”Webb is an exceptional example of global team effort and cooperation.