The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - Hubbles Successor

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a scheduled space telescope adjusted for observations in the infrared. It will observe deep space phenomena from the creation of galaxies to the behavior of nearby planets and stars. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was also previously known as Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). This project is an international collaboration of about 17 countries is directed by NASA. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is NASA's next orbiting telescope.

The size of this telescope is about a tennis court. James Webb was NASA’s chief from 1961 to 1968. Its primary goal is infrared observations. Infrared vision is vital to our accurate understanding of the universe because furthest objects like stars and galaxies can only be observed for better results through infrared.

So the James Webb Space telescope (JWDT) is highly equipped with infrared sensors like Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). NIRcam will detect the light from galaxies and stars within the Milky Way. NIRSpec will observe first galaxies formed after the Big Bang. MIRI will observe forming stars, objects in the Kuiper Belt like faint comets and distant galaxies. It will also observe star systems and planets having potential for supporting life. James Webb Space Telescope has a total of 18 mirrors.

James Webb Space telescope (JWDT) will be launched in 2018 and its destination will be 930,000 miles from Earth. Its primary mirror is about 6.5 meters in diameter and is gold-coated beryllium reflector. It will help scientist in understanding Big Bang and the conditions created after it. After its launch it will become the largest mirror ever sent by humans in space. The original date of its launch into space was in 2014 but due to budget and technical setbacks its launch is now four years delayed.