|
|
|
|
|||
By Mike Mitchell |
||||
March 3, 2010 - The James Webb Space Telescope reached a mission-readiness landmark when it’s first primary mirror segment was cryo-polished to its required prescription as measured at operational cryogenic temperatures. This achievement sets the stage for a successful polishing process for the remaining 18 flight mirror segments. Northrop Grumman Corporation is leading Webb's design and development effort for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "Many predicted it would take us multiple iterations to successfully polish these mirror segments to achieve the correct optical prescription at the telescope's operating temperatures, but we did it on our first try," said Scott Willoughby, Webb Telescope Program Manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "All our budgets and schedules are based on this and it's a confirmation of the basic plan we proposed ten years ago." |
||||
"The
completion of cryogenic polishing of the engineering development
unit primary mirror segment is a hugely significant milestone for
the Webb telescope project that demonstrates that our primary mirror
segments can be completed on schedule while meeting the performance
necessary for science," said Lee Feinberg, NASA Webb Optical
Telescope Element Manager at the Goddard Space Flight Center,
Cryogenic
polishing, or cryo-null figuring, ensures that when the mirror
reaches its extremely cold operating temperature, its shape will
conform to the exact optical prescription required to collect
accurate infrared images of distant stars and galaxies. The
engineering development unit mirror, which will be used as a flight
spare, was cryotested in the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) at
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in "For validation purposes, we're planning four sets of completely different cross checks and verification tests to authenticate the outcome of the mirror cryotests," said Scott Texter, Northrop Grumman Webb Optical Telescope Element Manager. "If any discrepancies surface, we can then investigate and re-verify." |
NASA Marshall and
principal optical contractor Ball Aerospace will conduct separate
verification tests using different computer generated holographic null
tools. NASA Goddard will use its own testing equipment and measurement
methods in its clean room; testing at The James Webb Space Telescope is the next-generation premier space observatory, exploring deep space phenomena from distant galaxies to nearby planets and stars. The Webb Telescope will give scientists clues about the formation of the universe and the evolution of our own solar system, from the first light after the Big Bang to the formation of star systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth. Expected to launch in 2014, the telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. |
©AvStop Online Magazine Contact Us Return To News |
|