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How much did the James Webb telescope cost?
10 billion USD (2016)
James Webb Space Telescope/Cost
The launch of NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope from French Guiana could mark a triumph in a tale that thousands of astronomers have been following for a generation.
How will the James Webb Telescope benefit us?
By viewing the universe at infrared wavelengths Webb will show us things never before seen by any other telescope. The universe is expanding, and therefore the farther we look, the faster objects are moving away from us, redshifting the light.
Who pays for James Webb telescope?
NASA’s lifetime cost for the project is expected to be US$9.7 billion, of which US$8.8 billion was spent on spacecraft design and development and US$861 million is planned to support five years of mission operations.
What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
What is the James Webb Space Telescope? The James Webb Space Telescope, also called Webb or JWST, is a large, space-based observatory, optimized for infrared wavelengths, which will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. It launches in 2021.
What are the pros and cons of setting up an observatory?
Every decision that’s made — in both astronomy and in life — comes with its own set of pros and cons. Setting up an observatory in space is expensive, precarious, and is dependent on a successful launch and deployment: there are multiple single-points-of-failure, and if anything catastrophic goes wrong, the entire mission is all for naught.
Will Webb be able to observe planets beyond the Earth’s orbit?
Yes! Webb will be able to observe the planets at or beyond the orbit of Mars, satellites, comets, asteroids, and Kuiper belt objects. Many important molecules, ices, and minerals have strong characteristic signatures at the wavelengths Webb can observe.
What can we observe with Webb?
Many important molecules, ices, and minerals have strong characteristic signatures at the wavelengths Webb can observe. Webb will also monitor the weather of planets and their moons. Because the telescope and instruments have to be kept cold, Webb’s protective sunshield will be blocking the inner solar system from view.