And so, like Hubble before it, it is highly likely to serve up solid space science for more than double its originally-targeted life-cycle. That is good news, and would greatly boost the return on the $10 billion investment. . . spent to get it to this point. Kudos to the ESA team for that [animated GIF credit NASA | Goddard Spaceflight].
Here's that presser from NASA's Goddard team -- all as the unfurlings are proceeding without any hitch:
. . .The analysis shows that less propellant than originally planned for is needed to correct Webb’s trajectory toward its final orbit around the second Lagrange point known as L2, a point of gravitational balance on the far side of Earth away from the Sun. Consequently, Webb will have much more than the baseline estimate of propellant – though many factors could ultimately affect Webb’s duration of operation. . . .
The extra propellant is largely due to the precision of the Arianespace Ariane 5 launch, which exceeded the requirements needed to put Webb on the right path, as well as the precision of the first mid-course correction maneuver – a relatively small, 65-minute burn after launch that added approximately 45 mph (20 meters/sec) to the observatory’s speed. A second correction maneuver occurred on Dec. 27, adding around 6.3 mph (2.8 meters/sec) to the speed. . . .
There will be a series of briefings, between now and January 6, on the progress of the origami-like unfoldings. But know that they are all working exactly as hoped. And that makes me smile. . . heading into an even-numbered year. For whatever reason, I always feel more grounded, focused, relaxed and freer -- in even numbered years. [Don't ask why -- I have no rational explanation. But this has been true for most of my adult life, though I've become more keenly aware of it, since at least 1998 or so.]
So. . . here's to a great and grand 2022. Be excellent to one another.
नमस्ते
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