Webb begins its science mission

The first half of 2022 is going to be a busy one for Webb. After its launch from French Guiana in December 2021, the space telescope will settle into its orbital position above Earth at the stable Lagrangian point L2. Around January 2022, Webb’s primary mirrors will begin the process of alignment. This will form the telescope’s 6.5metre (21.3-foot) primary mirror. Tests will then commence, seeing how well these mirrors work as a single surface. Between May and June is when the really exciting stuff begins for Webb, as this is when it will begin science operations.

Webb will allow astronomers to see further back in time than ever before. Researchers will finally be able to observe the first galaxies and stars, seeing what the universe looked like as early as 100 million years after the Big Bang. Webb will also observe the effects of dark energy as it drives the accelerating expansion of the universe. The use of infrared to observe the cosmos will also help peer through the dense clouds of gas and dust that are home to star formation. This will give scientists a better idea of the processes that lead to the birth of stars and planets. Webb will also be peering into the atmospheres of exoplanets, assessing their compositions and potentially detecting the building blocks needed for life.