Now We Will Need Three Months -- Of Patience -- Before We Start To "See" The Very Earliest Parts Of The Known Universe.

That next gen space 'scope is sailing silently toward the L2 point, completely operational.

Now -- as it sails -- it begins the iterative, slow and painstaking process of using tiny motor-controlled adjustments to the three axes of each hexagonal mirror, to cause the giant dish to act as a seamless, perfect parabolic reflector of infrared wavelength light. That reflection, in turn, will be resolved into the tiny mast mirrors, at over 100 times Hubble's optimal resolution. But as I say, it will take time:

. . .Engineers first commanded actuators – 126 devices that will move and shape the primary mirror segments, and six devices that will position the secondary mirror – to verify that all are working as expected after launch. The team also commanded actuators that guide [the 'scope's] fine steering mirror to make minor movements, confirming they are working as expected. The fine steering mirror is critical to the process of image stabilization.

Ground teams have now begun instructing the primary mirror segments and secondary mirror to move from their stowed-for-launch configuration, off of snubbers that kept them snug and safe from rattling from vibration. These movements will take at least ten days, after which engineers can begin the three-month process of aligning the segments to perform as a single mirror. . . .

Now you know -- a circle of lfe, indeed. And we'll look to the western sky, out east, and soon -- defying gravity. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते