As the agency described in its brand-new YouTube series “Elements of Webb,” the James Webb Space Telescopes radiator is painted black to absorb heat. Related: The James Webb Space Telescope explained in picturesLive updates: NASAs James Webb Space Telescope missionThis NASA image shows the release of the James Webb Space Telescopes secondary mirror out in front of its main mirror assembly. Considering that the scopes instruments naturally produce heat as they work, Roberts noted, Webb has to be proactive about cooling off.This is why, in addition to protecting the instruments from solar rays with the sunshield, Webb also has a radiator– painted with BIRB– that helps to keep things as chilly as possible.Webb showed up at its last home in area on Jan. 24 after a month of traveling nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) through space.
As the company explained in its brand-new YouTube series “Elements of Webb,” the James Webb Space Telescopes radiator is painted black to soak up heat. Related: The James Webb Space Telescope discussed in picturesLive updates: NASAs James Webb Space Telescope missionThis NASA image shows the implementation of the James Webb Space Telescopes secondary mirror out in front of its primary mirror assembly. Since the scopes instruments naturally produce heat as they work, Roberts noted, Webb has to be proactive about cooling off.This is why, in addition to shielding the instruments from solar rays with the sunshield, Webb also has a radiator– painted with BIRB– that helps to keep things as chilly as possible.Webb showed up at its final house in space on Jan. 24 after a month of traveling nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) through area.