This Week at NASA: James Webb Space Telescope, Expedition 49 and More

During a Nov. 2 media event at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Administrator Charlie Bolden was joined by Goddard Center Director Chris Scolese and Senior Project Scientist, Dr. John Mather for an update on the James Webb Space Telescope, including a rare glimpse at the telescope’s primary mirror.
Engineers and technicians recently completed a “Center of Curvature” test on the mirror, which measures the shape of the mirror. This is the first important optical measurement before the mirror goes into the testing chambers. Meanwhile, the telescope’s sunshield layers also have been finished. This will protect Webb’s sensitive instruments from the sun when the telescope is in space. The Webb Telescope, which is targeted for launch in 2018, will study every phase in the history of our universe, including the cosmos’ first luminous glows, the formation of planetary systems capable of supporting life, and the evolution of our own solar system. Also, Expedition 49 Returns Safely from the International Space Station, Next Space Station Crew Travels to Launch Site, Agency Innovation Mission Day, SDO Captures Lunar Transit, and World Altitude Record for MMS.