On December 25, the Webb space telescope took off from Kourou, Guyana, aboard a European Ariane 5 rocket. Funded over 90% by NASA, the $ 12 billion machine had just passed a milestone key to its existence. Perhaps one of the riskiest (even the most reliable rockets have a failure rate of between 1 and 2%), arguably the most spectacular and the most publicized. However, this was only a starting point, a necessary prerequisite but far from sufficient for the telescope to finally enter service.
Like an insect trapped in its chrysalis, Webb was indeed completely curled up in the cap of the rocket.
Impossible to launch as it is this juggernaut the size of a tennis court, tall as a two-story house.
It was only once in space that the telescope should gradually begin to moult.
"The work animals of the solar shield"
The solar panel responsible for supplying it with electricity unfolded automatically 29 minutes later ...
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